In order to create awareness in people about road safety and importance of maintaining discipline on roads, the government came up with various praiseworthy initiatives. There is no denying that various programmes have been taken up by the government and nongovernment agencies to improve the transport sector across the country but scenario remains unchanged, causing frequent accidents and traffic congestion on roads and highways every day.
In 2018, Bangladesh Road Transport Owners’ Association announced to include drivers on a monthly payroll system instead of the current contractual payment. But no progress has been made so far to adopt the system for bus staff members and thus road safety still remains a far cry. Report tells us that neither the owners nor the staffs of buses are willing to implement the new system. Furthermore, the combined management of all city bus companies under a single franchise has remained a nonstarter. It is needless to say that trip-base earning is one of the major reasons behind chaos on the roads. Such a system leads drivers to compete with each other to get more passengers. Therefore, unless the bus staffs are brought under the monthly payroll system, the situation will not improve.
The combined management of all city bus companies under a
single franchise has remained a nonstarter.
It is needless to say that trip-base earning is one of the major
reasons behind chaos on the roads
Experts are of the opinion that there are multiple reasons for which casualties on roads are still on the rise on a daily basis. The unruly mentality of the drivers is blamed for 90 per cent of road accidents. Through implementing efficient and synchronised safety policies and actions it would be possible to reducing the number of road accidents and casualties. But, that would require a great deal of commitment and developments in relevant sectors. Reducing and controlling vehicular speed, promoting safety for pedestrians and non-motorists as a priority, addressing accident prone areas on streets, introducing road safety audit process and catering non-motorised and slow-moving vehicles on roadways, are some of the core issues to be addressed. More importantly, vehicular standards and fitness requirements should be frequently audited by a specialised government cell with intensified traffic regulations and safety conscious behaviour.
Last but not least, authorities concerned should train up all drivers on a regular basis. If such measures are executed properly, it is expected that the rate of accidents will decrease and the dream of a safe road will become a reality.