Traffic laws need to be changed

Law Commission Chairman ABM Khairul Haque has called for changes to the laws to curb road accidents.

“People are losing their legs, hands and heads [in road accidents]. A civilised country cannot run in this manner. For this reason, the laws need to be changed. Its enforcement is needed too,” he told reporters after a meeting with Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain at the Supreme Court yesterday.

Traffic, commercial court, commercial disputes and arbitration laws were among the topics discussed in the meeting also attended by Law Commission Member Justice ATM Fazle Kabir.

 “I feel that the traffic law needs to be changed. If the people of the country feel that the traffic law needs to be changed, it will be changed.

“If anybody drives a car without a driving licence, their maximum punishment is four months' imprisonment and a fine of Tk 400. If the penalty for driving without a licence is so small, nobody will be interested in obtaining a driving licence.”

Justice Khairul said proper enforcement of the law and increasing the punishment for drivers responsible for road accidents are needed.

“The son of a transport owner may die tomorrow. The son of a judge, who releases a driver after fining Tk 400, may even die in a road accident. Therefore, I feel that brining a change to the law is seriously needed.”