Given the dismal record of road safety in the country, the proposed Tk 1.65-billion project for rectifying the black or accident-prone spots on the country's highways comes as a welcome relief. Considered lifelines of communication and economy, highways cannot be left fraught with avoidable dangers, particularly when infrastructural design and shape are to blame. That the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) sought the expertise of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) to identify the major faulty segments of roads and highways gives greater credential to the project than it would have done if any government agency undertook the task. As many as 227 risky spots were identified by the joint venture. Reportedly, the RHD has already taken care of 83 such spots all across the country. This is proof enough that the RHD is serious about accomplishing the job in right earnest.
Clearly, the focus is now on the 144 remaining black spots. If the allocation is given the approval by the authorities concerned in due time, the project is expected to be completed by June 2016. A programme of this kind was well in order much earlier but as things stand in this country, inordinate delays are made when urgency should have been the norm. Even misplaced priorities relegate some urgent issues on to the back burner. Elimination of black spots does not necessarily mean completely doing away with fatal accidents on the highways. Faulty turns and twists together with visual obstruction ahead are surely an open invitation for accidents. If those are removed, the rate of accidents which is abysmally high will definitely come down. Currently, the number of annual casualties is 12,000 dead and 35,000 injured. Consequently, the number of casualties is also expected to drop.
How far the rate will drop will, however, be decided also by other factors. Although road-crossing and intersections will be constructed under the project along with other remedial additions and subtraction, the quality of the men at the driving wheel will still prove to be a significant factor. Even the knowledge of traffic rules and compliance of those by pedestrians and slow-moving vehicles on the highways play a major role in avoiding accidents. Because highways in this country are not exactly what they ought to be, there is always the presence of some extraneous causes for accidents. In a country where people jaywalk right below the foot over-bridges and traffic signals are ignored with impunity in the capital or other large cities, the movement of villagers from villages on both sides of a highway is likely to be unpredictable.
Yet what counts most is to improve the standard of driving. The men at the driving wheel need to be fairly educated and trained in a proper manner. On long routes, they need ample rest but barring the drivers of the air-conditioned buses of a few reputed bus companies, the majority have little rest before they have to be on duty for the return journey. This tells on their health and reflex. These are issues to be taken care of if the aim is to bring the number of accidents to the minimum.
Road and highway safety
FE Team | Published: September 24, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
Share if you like