Rowdiness, underage drivers to blame

Many bus drivers in the capital are aged between 12 and 14 and their rowdy driving often results in fatalities, said Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon yesterday.

“Reckless driving by under-age drivers causes road accidents,” he said while inaugurating a programme on traffic management and public awareness in preventing street fatalities at Shahbagh in the capital.

The mayor called for stricter law to prevent road accidents as passengers are being regularly harassed onboard public transport by unruly conductors and helpers.

Citing that road accidents have alarmingly increased recently, the mayor said reckless driving and lack of awareness were the foremost reasons of street fatalities.

Although the city corporation authorities conduct mobile court drives against rowdy drivers on the city streets, incidents of several tragic accidents and fatalities were distressing, he said.

The actual number of casualties and injuries is much higher than reported and often it goes into oblivion from public memory, he said, citing the recent death of Rajib, a college student, who succumbed to his injuries after being sandwiched between two competing buses on Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue.

He also pointed out that pedestrians often cross busy roads while talking on mobile phones or with their headphones on, which is another prime reason behind accidents.

A number of high officials were present on the occasion.