The need for safe roads
Lion Md Gani Mia Babul
The need for safe roads is essential for sustainable development. Road accidents are constantly happening in the country. Road accidents cannot be reduced in any way. Government and private initiatives have been taken to prevent road accidents, but still it has not been possible to curb the accidents.
Since 22nd October 2017 National Safe Road Day is being observed nationally by government initiative. Every year GovtIn addition to the initiative, Safe Road Chai (Nischa) and various organizations carry out extensive programs. National Road Safety Day is being celebrated for the ninth time on October 22 (Wednesday) this year. This year the theme of National Safe Road Day is ‘Quality helmets and safe speed, reduce loss of life and property’.
Some of the causes of road accidents are inefficiency of drivers, driving at reckless speed, not using helmet while riding motorcycle. OvertakingDo-it-yourself mentality, lack of transparency and accountability in obtaining driving license, lack of public awareness, non-observance of traffic laws etc. Other causes of road accidents include unplanned construction of many roads and highways, tendency to drive in the middle of the road instead of keeping to the designated lane, presence of dangerous bends in the road, unfit driving, driving under the influence of drugs, driving in the wrong direction,Tendency of passengers or pedestrians on the road to disobey traffic laws, pedestrians walking in the middle of the road without using the footpath, not using the overbridge to cross the road, setting up shops on the road or footpath, parking cars all over the place, weak and corrupt traffic system and above all, reluctance of the passengers to follow the rules and regulations of road traffic.
in the countryDue to the way road accidents are happening, the highways are becoming death traps day by day. Driving on the highway now means risking your life. According to the Accident Research Institute (ARI) of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, at least 56 thousand 987 people have died in road accidents in the last two decades. In other words, in the last 20 years, an average of 8 people have lost their lives in road accidents.
Safe roads to reduce pressure on the health sectorIt is important to confirm. About 30 percent of the country’s medical expenses are spent on road accident patients. If the roads are made safe, the pressure on the budget of the health sector will be reduced. If safe roads are ensured, the number of patients in hospitals will decrease. As a result, it will be possible to increase the quality of service to patients in the hospital.
ARI says drivers are directly or indirectly responsible for 80 percent of accidents. The monetary amount of road accidents and damages caused in the countryAbout 40 thousand crores per year. Bangladesh is losing two to three percent of its gross national product (GDP) annually due to these accidents. The loss of life and property in road accidents and the traffic jams caused by accidents are hampering the economy of the country. Although the government has taken steps to prevent road accidents, due to the lack of proper planning and lack of coordination between the concerned institutions, the expected progress is not being made in this regard. Recently, Bangladesh EngineeringThese data have come out in a study by the University’s (BUET) Road Accident Research Institute (ARI). According to the study, effective speed control system should be developed on highways to prevent road accidents and appropriate training should be provided to improve the skills of drivers. It is not possible to prevent road accidents only by infrastructural development. Emphasis should be placed on management, education and awareness. Speed ​​control, speedInstallation of modern speed cameras for monitoring, deployment of permanent manpower for monitoring highways and setting up of mobile hospitals for immediate rescue and care after accidents.
Use of new technologies should be increased to reduce road accidents and ensure safe roads. Those concerned should be made competent in information technology. Road accidents are not the only cause of death. At the same time peoplePhysical, mental, economic and social damage is also taking place. Due to these reasons, road accidents have now emerged as one of the national problems. It is necessary to take comprehensive steps to solve this problem due to related reasons.
Loss of human resources in road accidents is the biggest loss. A family affected by an accident suffers inhuman suffering for a long time. Their loss is irreparable. In many cases it is not possible to overcome it. And if the familyIf the sole earner suffers such an accident, the impact is more long-term. The contribution of the transport sector in the development and progress of the country is undeniable. Communication system can be called the economic driving force of the country. But unfortunately, the safety of the transport sector has not been ensured even today. Everyone including the government should try their best to ensure road safety.
How accidents are happening on the country’s roads and highwaysThe rate at which the number of accidents is increasing, if practical and appropriate steps are not taken to prevent it very quickly or proper precautions are not taken in this regard, then the number of road accidents and casualties may increase in the future.
It is true, the road management of our country is relatively fragile. On the one hand, extra fares are being collected from passengers! On the other hand, the passengers are given the opportunity to drive the unskilled driverThe risk to life is increasing. Meanwhile, the march of death on the roads is getting longer due to not following the traffic laws properly and driving unfit vehicles.
Controlling road accidents is not an impossible task. This requires positive thinking and concerted action by the government and people and its proper implementation. The foremost thing to prevent road accidents is to make drivers efficient. Establishing adequate number of training institutes for trainingIf the training of drivers is arranged, it will be possible to curb road accidents to a large extent. Besides, drivers and related parties should be made aware of traffic laws. Along with this, the people should also follow the traffic laws and the laws made with the aim of safe movement on the roads. To prevent drivers from driving under the influence of drugs, drivers must undergo dope tests at regular intervals. Mobile phones of drivers while drivingUse should be discontinued. To ensure maximum safety of vehicles and passengers traveling on controlled or safe roads. Also, if motorcycle riders use standard helmets, road accidents will reduce a lot.
Necessary speed measuring devices should be installed on roads to control the speed of drivers. It is also important to avoid the mentality of overtaking drivers to prevent accidents. The overall road system of the country to prevent road accidentsDevelopment is needed. Unnecessary road digging should be stopped. It is also important to ensure that driving license is given only by judging the skills of the drivers. It is necessary to ensure that there is no irregularity or corruption in this matter from the concerned authorities. Bringing those involved in road accidents to strict accountability and punishing them through fair trials, regardless of their political identityIt is important to ensure the system. In any case, the lack of coordination between the concerned agencies in carrying out the responsibilities of order on the roads should be removed quickly.
The need for safe roads is essential to accelerate the development and progress of the country and for sustainable development. Ensuring safe roads requires everyone’s goodwill and collective efforts.
Lion Md Gani Mia Babul
(Teacher, Poet, Columnist, Social Worker and Organizer)
Joint Secretary-General, Safer Roads (Nischa)Central Committee
E-mail: lionganibabul@gmail.com