Road Safety in Bangladesh: Realities and Challenges
Editor: Hossain Zillur Rahman
Published by: Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC), Dhaka, July 2014
Book design and production: The Shikkha Bichitra, Malibag, Dhaka
Pages: 130; Price: Taka 900
As the editor of this research book says, "Road accidents are the new epidemic sweeping across much of the developing world". With its rapid urbanization and exponential growth of transport networks, safety on the roads has emerged as an inescapable priority for Bangladesh. Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee or BRAC therefore commissioned the PPRC research team to undertake a causal study on road safety in order to devise an appropriate advocacy strategy on this vital national issue. The outcome has been this illuminating book of 130 pages, comprising numerous tables, charts and graphs, and touching relevant themes like why road safety has become now a major concern, magnitude and trends of road accidents in Bangladesh, victims and perpetrators of mishaps, post-accident investigation and medical facilities, survey of drivers, causes of road accidents, relevant laws and institutions, improving road safety and recommendations for improving the situation.
The most important part of this research volume is its tenth chapter, where key findings of the study were summarised alongside a recommendations matrix covering diverse areas like governance in road safety, engineering safety, vehicle management, road users, accidents and post-accident issues, and advocacy challenges. A key finding of the BRAC-PPRC study has been that, road accidents are occurring not across all the highways and streets, but in a finite number of 'black spots' that see repetitive accidents. The total length of accident-prone highways was found to be around 57 kilometres. The road safety division of Roads and Highways department identified 209 such 'black spots'. However, this list should be updated regularly as rural roads carrying sharply increased road traffic are constantly on the rise.
Another key finding of the study is that, accidents occur frequently not on isolated road stretches, but in crowded intersections and bus stands, which are poorly planned or poorly regulated. Road curves with poor visibility are also responsible for a large share of the accidents. Seventy-six per-cent accident victims come from the vulnerable road users. The groups at maximum risk are: pedestrians (41%); passengers of light vehicles (19%); motor-cyclists/three-wheelers (16%). 'Hit and run' account for 42% of the accidents, 19% are head-on collisions, and 13% occur due to overturned vehicles.
Another key finding of the study was that a holistic safety agenda was needed as there were multiple causes of road accidents. These causes include reckless driving, untrained drivers, unfit vehicles, simultaneous (side-by-side) movement of motorised and non-motorised vehicles without any separation or segregation rules, risky roadside activities, faulty road-designs, poor traffic enforcement, dearth of road safety awareness, and a culture of impunity characterised by poor legal redress.
There also exist significant gaps and loopholes in laws and policies. The laws and policies have not been updated on a regular basis, and the principal legal instrument – Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1983 – is essentially a colonial legacy that is grossly out-of-date. Political economy factors have also been found to be major impediments to the road safety agenda. Entrenched power nexuses prevent actions against unfit vehicles, facilitate issuance of irrational route permits, encourage encroachments or occupations of roadside public lands, and lead to inappropriate penalties for the perpetrators of road accidents. Domination by influential political leaders is observed in the ownership of many transport companies as well as the control of transport workers' unions, and the problems are further compounded by complicity or inaction by concerned quarters.
The ten priority recommendations made by the BRAC-PPRC study are as follows: holding of a national dialogue for early passage of an appropriately updated road traffic law; regular updating of the accident black-spots' list, priority engineering action plan on black-spots' improvement along with targeted awareness initiatives; improved road engineering solutions with priority to geometric standard, intersection design, access control on highways, pedestrian facilities, parking spots, regular maintenance and adoption of road safety audit approach; undertaking a comprehensive study on optimal resolution of road-building and roadside economic activities; introduction of independent economic code for road safety projects in the budgetary process; promotion of quality driving schools; scaling up a national road safety awareness programme by targeting the drivers and vulnerable road users; establishment of a National Traffic Training Academy along with a comprehensive review of current approaches to traffic planning and management by the police; promotion of community traffic-policing solutions to prevent irrational traffic congestions and ensure safe use of roads; improving accident-related trauma facilities with focus on emergency critical care alongside introduction of an emergency access number and availability of affordable assistive devices.
The PPRC was established in 1996 as an independent think-tank focused on issues of poverty, growth, governance, education, urban transition and citizen initiatives. It puts particular emphasis on evidence-based policy formulation and knowledge management, and values building partnerships with critical agents of change towards the goals of shared prosperity and humane social order. It is headed by its founder, eminent economist and former adviser to the caretaker government Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman. This handy, insightful and comprehensive volume on road safety by Dr. Rahman and PPRC will prove invaluable to researchers, academics, relevant policy makers, the mass media and the road users of Bangladesh.
(Dr. Helal Uddin Ahmed is a senior civil servant and former editor of Bangladesh Quarterly.
Email: [email protected])
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