The flow of Eid travelers from the capital Dhaka to different parts of the country has already begun. Unfortunately, behind this joyful journey there often lies a harsh reality—road accidents.
A research report published in newspapers on Saturday stated that at least 314 locations across the country are at varying levels of risk for road accidents. The Road Safety Foundation analyzed data from nearly 37,000 accidents between 2020 and 2024 to identify these areas.
Among them, 139 locations have been marked as highly accident-prone, while 175 areas are considered accident-prone. Even more concerning is that 21 of these places are categorized as high-risk zones. In other words, there are many places on the country’s roads where accidents have almost become a regular occurrence.
The most surprising information in this situation is that about 85 percent of accidents are primarily caused by excessive speed. With the construction of modern roads and highways, it is natural for vehicle speeds to increase.
However, if there are no effective measures to control that speed, improved roads themselves can become sources of danger. In our country, huge investments are being made to build new highways, but it is extremely important to consider whether speed control, traffic management, and technological monitoring are being developed at the same pace.
The research report mentions several reasons behind the high accident risks. In some places there are design flaws in the roads; in others there is a lack of road dividers or warning signs.
In many areas, uncontrolled settlements and business establishments on both sides of the road increase the risk of accidents. These issues have been highlighted in several editorials before. We often see numerous bus counters along highways, passengers boarding and getting off at random points, and large numbers of workers crossing the roads.
When a road becomes not just a route for vehicles but also a part of people’s everyday activities, the likelihood of accidents naturally increases.
Another major issue is the lack of rest for long-distance drivers. When someone drives continuously for long periods, their attention and reaction ability naturally decline. Taking this reality into account, four modern rest areas were constructed at a cost of 2.27 billion taka—in Nimsar of Cumilla, Panchlia of Sirajganj, Lakshmikandar of Magura, and Jagadishpur of Habiganj.
Sadly, even after construction was completed, these rest facilities have not been put into operation. Infrastructure that could have helped reduce driver fatigue and lower accident rates now remains practically abandoned. Here, the gap between planning and implementation becomes clearly visible. Why this gap exists remains a puzzling question.
Road development is not merely a combination of bricks, sand, and bitumen—it is part of a comprehensive safety system. If improved roads are not accompanied by speed-control technology, effective traffic monitoring, trained drivers, and proper rest facilities, then such development can sometimes create new risks instead of reducing them.
During Eid, this reality becomes even more evident. At this time, not only does the number of vehicles on the road increase, but many drivers also exceed speed limits in a hurry to reach their destinations quickly.
Passengers themselves sometimes pressure drivers to travel faster. Yet we see almost every year in newspaper reports how a single moment of carelessness can lead to devastating consequences.
Therefore, the issue is not only about infrastructure—it is also about behavior and management. Eid is a journey of joy, a return to loved ones. So we must remember: the real success of a journey is not reaching quickly, but reaching safely.