Are You Safe On The Road? | In Depth Analysis |

Sajid Sami Chowdhury
Chittagong Bureau Chief, Daily Nayer Alo

Photo : Mehedi Hasan Shishir, Akbar Shah Correspondent, Daily Nayer Alo

Chittagong, February 2, 2024— The factors contributing to road accidents in Bangladesh include excessive speed, reckless driving, and lack of speed control measures. A study found that about 82% of road accidents in Bangladesh occur due to excessive speed and reckless driving.

Heavy vehicles such as trucks, buses, and minibuses are also major contributors to road accidents, accounting for about 79% of accidents.

Additionally, factors such as road infrastructure conditions, lack of speed control signs, and inadequate street lights have been associated with an increase in road accidents causing severe injuries.

To address these issues, the study suggests the importance of education and strict enforcement of traffic rules to increase knowledge and practice behavior related to road safety measures.

In Bangladesh, road accidents are significantly influenced by various factors such as excessive speed, reckless driving, and the lack of speed control measures. Heavy vehicles and road infrastructure conditions also contribute to the high rate of road accidents. Addressing these issues requires a comprehensive approach that includes education, strict enforcement of traffic rules, and the implementation of speed control measures.

According to the Bangladesh Road Safety Foundation, the most common types of road accidents in Bangladesh are caused by unsafe driving practices such as speeding, rash overtaking, and operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Reckless driving is predicted to be the cause of 82% of road accidents in Bangladesh.

Heavy vehicles such as trucks, buses, and minibuses are also major contributors to road accidents, accounting for about 79% of accidents. Poor road conditions are the second most common reason for accidents on Bangladesh’s roads, accounting for 15% of all traffic accidents in Bangladesh in 2022.

The Bangladesh Road Safety Foundation’s annual report states that at least 6,284 people died, and 7,468 others were injured in road accidents between January and December 2021.

To address these issues, comprehensive steps need to be taken to address road safety, including maintaining, fixing, and modernizing roads, installing dividers on national highways, installing warning signals for hazardous locations, and mass dissemination of knowledge on driving and road safety through the media.

A survey conducted in Chittagong city found that pedestrian accidents and rear-end collisions were the most frequent types of accidents, accounting for 43% and 22% of total accidents, respectively.

A study on pedestrian crossing behavior at un-signalized intersections in Chittagong city found that pedestrians often cross the road without following traffic rules, which increases the risk of accidents.

The Bangladesh Road Safety Foundation’s annual report states that at least 6,284 people died, and 7,468 others were injured in road accidents between January and December 2021.

Reckless driving by drivers in violation of traffic laws is a major cause of road accidents in Bangladesh.

The Dhaka-Chittagong National Highway is also a location where many accidents occur.

To address these issues, comprehensive steps need to be taken to address road safety, including maintaining, fixing, and modernizing roads, installing dividers on national highways, installing warning signals for hazardous locations, mass dissemination of knowledge on driving and road safety through the media, and exemplary punishment for violating traffic laws.

Pedestrian accidents are a significant problem in Chittagong, and the most common causes of these accidents are reckless driving, insufficient safe walking infrastructure, and pedestrians not following traffic rules. A study found that pedestrian accidents accounted for 43% of total accidents in Chittagong, making them the most frequent type of accident[1]. Another report states that insufficient safe walking infrastructure is causing the most deaths in the city, with 56% of road deaths being pedestrians[2]. Pedestrians are the most vulnerable group susceptible to road traffic accidents, and most of the crashes at these locations are found to be of fatal types[3]. A study on pedestrian crossing behavior at un-signalized intersections in Chittagong city found that pedestrians often cross the road without following traffic rules, which increases the risk of accidents[4]. According to the Road Safety Foundation, 60% of road accident victims in 2022 were pedestrians, and 48.74% of them had to fall prey to accidents while walking on the streets and 51.25% while crossing[5]. To address these issues, comprehensive steps need to be taken to address road safety, including maintaining, fixing, and modernizing roads, installing dividers on national highways, installing warning signals for hazardous locations, mass dissemination of knowledge on driving and road safety through the media, and exemplary punishment for violating traffic laws[5].

Insufficient safe walking infrastructure has been identified as a significant factor in pedestrian fatalities. Therefore, there is a need to improve the availability, maintenance, and planning of different pedestrian facilities to enhance pedestrian safety[1][4].

Studies have highlighted that pedestrians often do not use road crossing facilities due to reasons such as insufficient security, time consumption, poor entrance, and issues related to hawkers. Addressing these concerns can encourage more responsible pedestrian crossing behavior and reduce the risk of accidents[3].

Implementing better traffic management and enforcement measures can help reduce the frequency of pedestrian accidents, particularly rear-end collisions. This includes measures to control vehicle speeds and improve compliance with traffic regulations[5].

Initiatives to raise public awareness about pedestrian safety and educate both pedestrians and drivers about the importance of following traffic rules and respecting pedestrian rights can contribute to reducing accidents[5].

These measures are aimed at addressing the root causes of pedestrian accidents and improving overall pedestrian safety in Chittagong.

Citations:
[1] Study of traffic crashes in Chittagong city (BUET)
[2] Report: Road crash fatalities increasing rapidly in Chittagong [Dhaka Tribune] [3] Safety Investigation and Assessment of Dhaka-Chittagong National . [Researchgate] [4] Study on pedestrian crossing behaviour at un-signalized intersection . [Researchgate] [5] Over-speeding: 60% of road accident victims are pedestrians [The Business Standard]