New challenges over accidents

A new challenge will arise over control of accidents in roads, highways and expressways as the first-ever guideline determines maximum speed limits for all motor vehicles from 20 to 80 kph.
However, the guideline, published on Tuesday, has not mentioned vehicles' positions on road networks.
All bikers will have to check speed limit within 20 kph in rural and narrow urban roads and the highest 60 kph on highways and expressways where private cars, jeeps, microbuses as well as light-to-heavy buses are allowed the highest limit of 80 kph.
On the other hand, vehicles like goods trucks, mini-trucks, covered vans and trailers are allowed to run 50 kph.
The guideline has not been scientific, says transport expert Prof M Shamsul Hoque in a reaction to the guideline.
The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) in a gazette notification on Tuesday published the 'Motor Vehicles' Speed Limit Guideline 2024'.
Dr Hoque, who teaches civil engineering at BUET, says speed difference on a same road will cause more accidents that highway police cannot fully control.
"If an environment is created in road infrastructure like expressway for high 100-kph speed, they cannot lower limits. So, slow-speed vehicles cannot run on the same lane," he says, highlighting flaws in the guideline.
He also said left sides of any highway or expressway are always designed for slow-driven vehicles whose speed limit might be even lower to zero speed-based on the lane position.
The guideline, however, fixes speed limit for private cars, jeeps, microbuses, light-to-heavy buses in second category of highways to 70 kph, but goods vehicles will run within 45 kph.
On the other hand, bikers' speed limit is 50 kph.
The speed limit for private cars, jeeps, microbuses, light-to-heavy buses will be 60 kph in district roads, but the limit of the same on highways and regional highways, which are parts of city corporations, municipalities and upazilas, will be 50 kph.
Narrow roads in the city allow maximum speed for motorbikes 20 kph and 30 kph for private vehicles.
Speed limit for goods vehicles, including trucks and mini-trucks, are allowed 30 kph.
The BRTA prepared the guideline in line with section 44 of the Road Transport Act 2018 and section 125 of the Road Transport Rules 2022.

[email protected]