Move to cut road crashes

The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) is straightening 17 risky turns on the 40-km road to reduce road crashes from Amtali to Kuakata in the district.

 Accidents have been taking place regularly due to these turns on Patuakhali-Kuakata road.

Cautionary signboards will also be set up on both sides of these turns to encourage drivers to ply their vehicles safely and avoid accidents.

Amtali Upazila Health Officer Dr Shankar said at least 20 people were killed from January to July and 520 were injured during the period from January to April this year, while at least 25 were killed and 1,266 injured in 2017. 

The identified 17 risky spots are:  two each at Churikata point, Manikjhuri, Khuriar Kheyaghat, and one each at Khaliyan, Bandar Primary School, Bandra Bazar, Bandra sluice gates, Shakharia High School, Shakharia brickfield, Kwabunia, Kukua, Daktarbari, Mohishkata Bazar and Ghotkhali, said district RHD Executive Engineer Mir Nizam Uddin.                                                                       

He said they have identified these risky turns and have taken up a Tk 3.89 crore project to straighten those, adding that the work has already started.

“We will set up cautionary signboards on both sides of these turns to make drivers aware and drive their vehicles safely,” he said.

The work will be completed by this year, he hoped.

Md Rafiqul Islam, a bus driver on Patuakhali-Kuakata road, said it is a very good step.

Shamsul Alam, a local of Khuriar Khyaghat area, said there are very risky turns but there are no cautionary signboards at all. Road accidents often take place as no vehicle from the opposite side can be seen, he said.

The portion is the most accident-prone area and authorities should set up signboards with symbols of bridges, schools-colleges, culverts, U-turns, speed-breakers, and right or left turns, he said.                                      

Patuakhali Bus Owners' Association President Md Reaz Uddin Mridha said RHD's step is laudable and he hoped that it will help reduce road accidents.

The authorities should ban all three-wheelers, which are a major cause of road accidents on the highways, as the drivers do not know or do not follow traffic regulations, he added.

At least eight people, including women and children, were killed and more than three injured in a road accident at Manikjhuri point under Amtali upazila on July 26 this year when a bus and three-wheeler collided head-on.