Road accident deaths to be halved by 2020: Quader

- 50% death toll to be reduced by 2020

- 227 accident-prone zones spotted

- 888 die till April, 2017  

The government is determined to bring down the death toll and number of injures in road accident by 50 percent by the year 2020, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader told the parliament today.

“Being a signatory country for Sustainable Development Goals-2030 adopted by the United Nations, Bangladesh is committed to bringing down number of deaths and injuries by 50 percent by 2020,” the minister said while replying to lawmakers’ queries.

In the scripted answer, Quader said, “The government has been implementing various projects and programmes considering 3Es (Engineering, Education and Enforcement) aimed at reducing road accidents in the country.”

227 danger zones spotted

The government has identified 227 accident-prone spots through survey of the country's roads and highways network, Quader, also the general secretary of ruling Awami League, said.

He said his ministry has already taken corrective measures for over 100 spots out of total 227.

“Also a project of Tk 165 crore is now being implemented to undertake the preventive measures for the rest of black spots within the outgoing fiscal,” he said.

The minister informed the House that with the ongoing activities by the Road Transport and Bridges ministry, road accidents and deaths by accidents have been reducing gradually.

Quoting a police report, he said that the number of road accidents was 4,472 in 2008, while the number of road accidents came down to 2,566 in 2016.

While replying to another query, Quader added that a total of 888 people were killed in road accidents across the country in the first four months of 2017.