Ban three-wheelers on highways to reduce accidents: BJKS

Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (BJKS) has called for a ban on the movement of motorcycles, auto-rickshaws and easy-bikes on national highways aiming to reduce the risk of road accidents during Eid holidays.
In a statement on Sunday, BJKS Secretary General Md Mozammel Hoque Chowdhury also called upon the government to meet their demands, considering the interests of passengers.
Around one million new motorcycles hit the roads during the coronavirus pandemic in the last two years, he said, adding that about two million easy- bikes also hit the roads and highways during the same period.
"At present, around 3.5 million motorcycles and about 4 million easy-bikes are plying the roads leading to 50 per cent increase in traffic jam on the roads."
He also warned that passengers might face terrible traffic jams on the highways and roads if such vehicles are not regulated on roads and highways during Eid holidays.
He said there may be around 1.2 million motorcycle trips from the capital to its adjoining districts due to a shortage of public transports during the Eid festival.
Besides, he said, there will be additional 4-4.5 million motorcycle ridesharing trips in different inter-districts during the largest festival of the Muslims.
"Some 2-2.5 million motorcycles will be running on national highways during Eid. And road accidents often occur when people travel by motorcycles with their family members and luggage during the Eid vacation."
He mentioned that 323 people were killed and 622 others injured in 318 road accidents during last Eid season.
Out of the total accidents, 139 people were killed and 199 injured in 144 motorcycle accidents during the last year festival, showing a 44.28 per cent of total accidents, 43.03 per cent death and 31.99 per cent injured.
"Passengers might travel by motorcycles three times during upcoming Eid which might cause accidents three times higher compared with previous times," he said.
Mr Chowdhury said around 50 per cent road accidents could be reduced if the movement of motorcycles on the roads is controlled by the road management system.
Due to a lack of service lane on highways, he said, around 1.5 million passengers will be travelling by easy-bikes, rickshaws, and auto-rickshaws from one place to another during Eid holidays.
Such mode of transports like easy-bike, rickshaw and auto-rickshaw might increase the possibility of creating traffic jams on the roads and highways during the festival, he added. "So, we call upon the government to ban the movement of rickshaws, auto-rickshaws, easy-bikes and nasimon on the roads and highways to reduce the risk of accidents during Eid," he said.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com