Road accidents in Dhaka
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
Commuting in Dhaka city has become almost a nightmarish experience. Motorised as well as manually driven vehicles keep the city streets clogged from morning to midnight. The use of sidewalks or pavements by the pedestrians is also difficult since those remain occupied by the hawkers. A study on traffic causalities in Dhaka city indicates that 51 per cent of all traffic-related casualties are pedestrians. Of the 3,300 people killed every year in metropolitan areas, most are in Dhaka. The study suggests making the city's traffic system more pedestrian-friendly. We don't know how it will be done. But we can only say that Dhaka city is not suitable for the pedestrians and not even for the commuters.
Globally the tools for making cities and traffic movement have been adopted with successful results. The policymakers here remain reluctant to intervene. With every passing year the number of traffic fatalities is going up and a number of studies do point out that many of the victims are pedestrians. People are not only killed but also grievously injured every year. We need safer roads side by side with the rise in vehicles on the streets. If a comprehensive plan is taken to improve the road system of the metropolis, road fatalities can definitely be reduced. First of all we need to clear the footpaths and pavements from the possession of hawkers. Secondly, the zebra crossings should be strictly maintained by the traffic police and vehicle drivers and there should adequate number of foot over-bridges and underpasses in the city for safe movement of the people. Usually general people try to avoid the use of zebra crossing, over-bridges or underpasses. There should be an extensive awareness campaign. Hope we can plan our road system better so that fewer people are killed every day.
Ahmed Reza
Dhanmandi R/A, Dhaka
Globally the tools for making cities and traffic movement have been adopted with successful results. The policymakers here remain reluctant to intervene. With every passing year the number of traffic fatalities is going up and a number of studies do point out that many of the victims are pedestrians. People are not only killed but also grievously injured every year. We need safer roads side by side with the rise in vehicles on the streets. If a comprehensive plan is taken to improve the road system of the metropolis, road fatalities can definitely be reduced. First of all we need to clear the footpaths and pavements from the possession of hawkers. Secondly, the zebra crossings should be strictly maintained by the traffic police and vehicle drivers and there should adequate number of foot over-bridges and underpasses in the city for safe movement of the people. Usually general people try to avoid the use of zebra crossing, over-bridges or underpasses. There should be an extensive awareness campaign. Hope we can plan our road system better so that fewer people are killed every day.
Ahmed Reza
Dhanmandi R/A, Dhaka