Road accidents must not spoil the joy of Eid-ul-Fitr

Millions of people have already left for home on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, which falls on April 10 or 11. Although this should be the happiest travel possible, road accidents frequently make it into a sad journey. Despite the implementation of many precautions aimed at preventing road accidents, the Eid holidays have unfortunately resulted in the loss of many lives and injuries to many others. Numerous reasons contribute to these roadside catastrophes, and hopefully the authorities are ready to counteract unexpected devastation during this Eid-ul-Fitr.

In Bangladesh today, one of the biggest hazards to human life is road accidents. On the roadways, thousands of lives are lost. Many families are irreparably destroyed by these accidents. It is beginning to look like a man-made disaster. Bangladeshs roadways still need to be made safer, despite the many promises made. Road accidents are now causing more deaths and injuries than diseases. The saddest thing that can happen is losing a loved one in a car crash on a holiday like Eid-ul-Fitr. In recent years, there has been a notable rise in road accidents as a result of urbanization and motorization. In Bangladesh, road accidents claim the lives of about twenty persons each day on average, according to the Accident Research Institute (ARI) of BUET.
 
An advocacy group for commuters and passengers rights, Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (BJKS), released its yearly report on the number of fatalities and injuries caused by road, rail, and river incidents in the preceding year. The data indicated that in 6,261 traffic incidents nationwide in 2023, at least 7,902 persons lost their lives and 10,372 were injured. According to the BJKS study, there were 520 railway incidents in the previous year that resulted in 512 deaths and 475 injuries. In the 148 waterways incidents that occurred at the same period, 91 persons lost their lives, 152 were hurt, and 109 were reported missing. The high death rate from motorcycle accidents is one of the reports critical findings. Roughly one-third of the overall fatalities were linked to motorcycle crashes on public roads and highways.
Recent data indicates that during the most recent Eid ul-Adha holiday, 299 individuals died in 277 traffic incidents on the nations roadways and highways. These incidents also resulted in 544 injuries. According to the research, there were 341 accidents involving roads, trains, and waterways during Eid-ul-Fitr in 2023, resulting in 355 fatalities and 620 injuries. Motorcycles accounted for 51 percent of all fatalities and 54.3 percent of all traffic accidents. On the day of Eid-ul-Fitr in 2023, 216 motorcycle accident victims received care at the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) alone.

The desired level of road safety in the nation is still an illusion as long as deaths continue to occur on its roads and highways. We are inundated with tales of horrific traffic accidents, fatalities, and injuries almost daily. Despite the fact that far too many lives are lost in roadway collisions every day, the causes of these incidents are not given the attention they deserve. The road crash death march never ends, despite the authorities promises to take decisive action following each tragedy. The deaths keep occurring on the roadways, and the problems are forgotten within a few days.

The majority of the accidents were found to be caused by vulnerable vehicles, careless driving, a lack of experience, mental and physical illness, insufficient benefits for drivers, slow moving traffic on highways, youth riding recklessly, an inadequate traffic management system, and a lack of knowledge about traffic laws.

Compared to four-wheelers, two-wheelers are at least thirty times more likely to be involved in an accident. In an effort to lower the number of accidents, many western nations as well as a few Asian nations, most notably Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia, have already begun to promote the use of bicycles in place of motorbikes. However, motorbike control is not receiving enough serious attention in Bangladesh. The analysts asserted that the governments budgetary strategy actually encourages the use of these two-wheelers.

The incidence of deadly motorcycle accidents is rising along with the number of motorcycles on the road. Because of the erratic traffic and inadequate safety precautions, the risk may be increased here in Bangladesh. Even with speed breakers and little potholes, two-wheelers cause accidents because they lack balance and are extremely unstable. They have a higher risk of getting struck by big cars. The majority of its riders are young people and teenagers who enjoy riding recklessly and are ecstatic about speed and loud noises. On active roadways, motorcyclists and pillion riders are often killed by second strikes or are ran over by another car since they have no shield. Motorcycles are not allowed on the Padma Bridge, which is a wise decision of the government as they could have led to more careless driving on this stunning bridge and more accidents.

Most of the countrys road accident victims are earning family members, particularly around the Eid holidays when they are traveling home to celebrate the holiday with their loved ones. When a familys only provider perishes in a car accident, it not only impacts the family but also the economy of the nation.  An analysis of the number of accident-related deaths and injuries as well as the socioeconomic losses to those who depended on them revealed that the nation lost more than Tk 1,090 billion in just three years, and that the number of accidents and ensuing casualties rises annually.

It is crucial to look into the reasons behind the high accident rate given the significant improvements in road communication that have occurred in the nation. As has been well noted, one of the main contributing factors to traffic accidents is the carelessness of drivers. Accidents can be greatly decreased by putting in place a maximum speed restriction on highways and making sure that it is strictly observed by using speedometers. In order to improve the competencies of transportation personnel, specialist educational institutions must be established. Significant efforts should be made to improve these workers quality of life and instill improved values alongside skill development.

Road and highway design and quality must be improved, inappropriate vehicles must not be let on the road, and traffic laws must be widely known in order to guarantee road safety for all. Improving the traffic police control system, discouraging reckless driving, testing driver skill and vehicle fitness, and fostering greater owner-driver cooperation are just a few of the quick fixes we should think of for the current road safety problems. Additionally, before hiring, transport owners should carefully examine the drivers driving abilities. Not to mention, the government ought to act more sensibly to make sure that motorists who disobey traffic laws are punished.

During the decade prior, the national budget has allocated more money for the development of road communication. Both new and expanded highways have been constructed. In response to student protests demanding road safety, the government passed a new road transport act. However, the truth is that road deaths continue to occur. Enacting new laws is unlikely to make a significant difference in lowering traffic accidents. It will necessitate thorough implementation as well as awareness creation. Both traffic legislation and traffic management should be updated to reflect the practices of developed nations. Integrity in BRTAs work is crucial and must be done with extreme diligence and honesty.

We will suffer economically if we are unable to prevent road accidents because not only will lives be lost, but human resources will also be rendered incapable of doing productive tasks. Bangladeshi citizens have a right to demand safe roadways as the country strives to move forward with its development. Authorities have to make sure that people may celebrate Eid without worrying about dying in the frantic dash home.

Accidents should be the exception rather than the rule, even though they can never be totally prevented. Let us all hope that we do not have to read about any more tragic accidents as the holidays draw to a close. We pray that everyone will safely reach home for Eid-ul-Fitr and return to the workforce following the holiday.

The writer is Chief Editor at Mohammadi News Agency (MNA) and Editor at Kishore Bangla