Road accidents are rising at an alarming rate nationwide, turning our roads and highways into perilous death traps.
It seems we are either unwilling to acknowledge the severity of this crisis or lack the expertise to tackle it effectively. Lives are being lost daily, sometimes within mere hours or minutes, creating an endless chain of tragedies.
Despite these losses, accountability is glaringly absent, obscured by a culture of excuses and superficial investigation committees. This persistent neglect has normalized road accidents, making human lives disturbingly expendable in the domain of road transport.
From a human rights perspective, such systemic neglect constitutes "systematic violence," for which both the state and society bear responsibility.
Research reveals that an average of 65 people die in road accidents daily in Bangladesh, amounting to 24,000 fatalities annually. Over 300,000 individuals sustain injuries each year, and approximately 80,000 are left permanently disabled.
According to the Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association, the last decade witnessed 60,980 road accidents, resulting in 105,338 deaths and 149,847 injuries. These staggering statistics underscore the deteriorating condition of our roads.
Common causes of accidents include vehicle fitness issues, speeding, reckless overtaking, poor road design, intrusion of slow-moving vehicles on highways, driver incompetence, and road defects. However, at the core of nearly all fatal accidents lies a universal culprit—negligence and lack of awareness.
Adhering to road rules should be a priority for drivers, riders, and pedestrians alike.
In developed countries, maintaining road discipline is of utmost importance. By contrast, in Bangladesh and many developing nations, licensing processes are shockingly lax. Some officials have even admitted that driving licenses were once issued based on the ability to identify cows and goats—a damning indicator of systemic negligence.
This carelessness has led to a rapid rise in the number of vehicles and drivers, many of whom are inadequately trained or outright unqualified.
While road accidents worldwide are often considered random events, the situation in Bangladesh is anything but. Issues such as improper route permits, unfit vehicles, unqualified drivers, and negligence by authorities—ranging from BRTA to Highway and Traffic Police—compound the problem.
Addressing this crisis demands coordinated action and unwavering accountability. Integrating technology into vehicles, prioritizing driver health, and enforcing robust safety standards are essential steps.
For long-distance drivers, adequate rest and fair wages are crucial to ensure their mental and physical readiness. Pedestrians, too, must stay vigilant and cautious. The simple but vital mantra—“Caution never hurts”—can prevent countless tragedies.
With winter approaching, the frequency of road accidents is likely to rise, as it does every year. To mitigate this, we must prioritize social awareness, devise sustainable action plans, and enforce road safety laws rigorously.
Let us strive to make our roads and highways conduits of life, not traps of death.