Blood on the asphalt

The roads and highways of our cities have become synonymous with bloodshed. Each week, the news delivers fresh stories of tragic accidents, leaving shattered families and lives cut short. What was once a simple act, like crossing the road, now fills us with dread, as we wonder whether we or our loved ones will make it home safely or not. Will our streets ever be safe enough for us to travel without fear?

Incidents of road accidents, traffic injuries, and ensuing disabilities have remained alarmingly high in Bangladesh. In September alone, at least 426 people lost their lives, and 813 others were injured in 392 road accidents across the country, according to a report by the Road Safety Foundation (RSF). The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies road traffic injuries as the 8th leading cause of death in Bangladesh. While the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority reported 4,636 road traffic deaths in 2022, the WHO’s estimate for 2021 is several times higher, with around 31,578 deaths. This discrepancy underscores the uncertainty surrounding the true scale of the problem, making it clear that our understanding of road safety in Bangladesh remains inadequate.

The tragic case of the two sisters being run over by buses racing each other is a stark reminder of the dangerous conditions on our roads. But are the bus drivers really the villain in this narrative? Most of these drivers are victims in their own right, operating under immense pressure -- both economic and social. Many drivers in Bangladesh operate without formal contracts, forced into a system where bus owners rent out vehicles and take as much as three-fourths of the drivers’ total earnings. To make ends meet, drivers must race through long hours, trying to complete as many trips as possible. This creates an environment of recklessness, with little regard for traffic laws or safety. 

According to reports from the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, 16.15% of all vehicles involved in road accidents in 2023 were buses. However, the blame doesn't solely fall on drivers. One significant factor is Bangladesh’s heavy reliance on road transport, which handles 80-88% of passenger traffic and 60-80% of freight, according to the ADB. This overdependence on roads, coupled with poor infrastructure, leads to congestion, frequent accidents, and fatalities. With 80% of the transport budget going to roads, leaving railways and waterways underfunded, the situation worsens, creating a chaotic and unsafe environment for drivers and pedestrians alike.

Roads across Bangladesh, particularly in Dhaka, are overcrowded, poorly maintained, and often lack basic infrastructure like traffic signs, signals, and pedestrian crossings. Drivers are left to navigate chaotic intersections with no guidance, while pedestrians risk their lives crossing busy streets without designated crosswalks. Even the most responsible drivers are bound to face difficulties avoiding accidents in such conditions. The issue is compounded by the alarming presence of unregistered vehicles -- 30% of those on Dhaka’s roads operate without proper documentation, according to the BRTA. These poorly maintained vehicles, lacking essential safety features, pose a serious danger to everyone on the road, and further raise critical questions about accountability.

Another pressing concern is the weak enforcement of traffic laws. Despite existing regulations, corruption allows traffic violations to be ignored for the right price, with drivers rarely facing significant penalties. If law enforcement is inconsistent, what incentive is there for drivers to follow the rules? On top of this, traffic police are often overburdened and lack the resources to manage the overwhelming volume of vehicles.

As a nation, we also struggle with basic road etiquette. Simple acts like wearing seatbelts, using helmets, avoiding speeding, or not driving under the influence are frequently ignored. This lack of courtesy and disregard for safety rules further exacerbates the crisis on our roads.

The cost of road accidents is borne not only by the victims and their families but also by the economy, which suffers from untimely deaths, injuries, disabilities, and loss of livelihoods. A significant portion of these accidents is tied to the country's overreliance on road transport, especially for freight movement. By reducing this dependency and investing in alternative transport systems like waterways and railways, we can alleviate pressure on the roads and, in turn, reduce accidents. Diversifying transport options not only enhances safety but also boosts economic resilience by minimizing costly disruptions caused by road accidents. 

Addressing the issue of outmoded and poorly maintained vehicles is crucial for road safety -- vehicles in such conditions should no longer be allowed on the roads, plain and simple. Most drivers in Bangladesh do not hold valid licenses, with many using fake or expired documents. Reforming the licensing system, rooting out corruption, and ensuring drivers receive proper training are essential steps in reducing accidents. At the same time, we must improve working conditions for bus and truck drivers, offering fair wages and better hours to reduce reckless driving practices.

Pedestrian safety must also be prioritized. Many roads, especially in Dhaka, lack adequate pedestrian crossings, forcing people to jaywalk and navigate through speeding traffic. This exposes pedestrians to significant risks, particularly children and the elderly, who are often seen weaving between speeding vehicles to cross roads. Building more pedestrian overpasses, underpasses, and dedicated crosswalks, as well as installing traffic lights for pedestrians, would greatly reduce accidents involving them.

Lastly, introducing Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) could transform how we manage traffic in Bangladesh. ITS can use real-time data to control traffic signals, reduce gridlock, and monitor traffic violations through automated systems like CCTV. Implementing these technologies would alleviate pressure on traffic police while improving overall road safety. Alongside these changes, public awareness campaigns promoting road safety practices could shift behavior, as they have in many other countries.

Transportation is complex as there is far too often a delicate interplay of human error at every level. It's where mistakes behind the wheel meet flaws in infrastructure design, misguided policies, and community indifference. Each layer of our system -- drivers, constructors, politicians, and the public -- contributes to the chaos on our roads. It's a web of intertwined failures, and that’s precisely why the solution must involve all of us working together. The time for change is now -- we need to work together to transform our streets from sites of tragedy into corridors of safety and progress.

 

Hurmetun Nesa Labiba is a Research Intern at Bangladesh Institute of Governance and Management (BIGM).