Road Safety Law Urged to Address Rising Deaths

A high rate of road fatalities continues to haunt Bangladesh, with about 19 people dying in road crashes per 100,000 population, according to data shared by Tanzid Mohammad Sohrab Reza, General Secretary of Nirapad Sarak Andolon. Reza's comments were made during a youth discussion on Road Safety Law, organized by the Ahsania Mission Youth Forum for Health and Wellbeing, in the city's Shyamoli area. The event highlighted the insufficiency of the existing Road Transport Act 2018 and Road Transport Rules 2022 in ensuring overall road safety, with speakers emphasizing the need for a separate 'Road Safety Law' in line with the UN's safe system approach. The discussion underscored the lacunae in the current law, which fails to provide provisions for safeguarding pedestrians, cyclists, persons with disabilities, and children.

Key Takeaways:

• The high rate of road fatalities in Bangladesh is a major concern, with approximately 19 deaths per 100,000 population, as per data from the World Health Organization.
• The existing Road Transport Act 2018 and Road Transport Rules 2022 primarily focus on transport operations and systems but are insufficient to ensure overall road safety.
• A separate 'Road Safety Law' is needed to address all safety-related issues, aligning with the UN's safe system approach.
• The current Road Transport Act lacks provisions for safeguarding vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, persons with disabilities, and children.
• Youth must take the lead in urging the government and political parties to enact and enforce a dedicated road safety law to mitigate road crashes.
• Tanzid Mohammad Sohrab Reza, General Secretary of Nirapad Sarak Andolon, emphasized the need for a comprehensive road safety law.
• Speakers, including A.F.M Sadman Sakib and Estiak Emon, apprised the gathering that road crashes remain a leading cause of death among young people.

Statistics:

• Approximately 19 people out of 100,000 population die in road crashes in Bangladesh, according to World Health Organization data.
• The existing Road Transport Act 2018 and Road Transport Rules 2022 were insufficient to ensure overall road safety, highlighting the need for a separate 'Road Safety Law.'

Sources:

• World Health Organization (no date given)
• Press release from the Ahsania Mission Youth Forum for Health and Wellbeing, Shyamoli area, Bangladesh
• Tanzid Mohammad Sohrab Reza, General Secretary of Nirapad Sarak Andolon (no date given)
• Monoarul Islam, Advocacy Officer (Policy) of the Road Safety Project at Dhaka Ahsania Mission (no date given)
• A.F.M Sadman Sakib, member of the Ahsania Mission Youth Forum for Health and Wellbeing (no date given)
• Estiak Emon, general member of the Bangladesh Debate Federation (no date given)