Manikganj accident
This matter was reported in some dailies on 3rd August, based on BUET's report on the accident, where two public officials lost their lives! The report identified two major reasons for the head-on collision. One was poor roof safety design of the Pajero jeep assembled by Progoti Industries Ltd, a public enterprise. The other was related to lapses of the driver, who was although in the front, did not suffer a fatal injury! Also, the guard sitting on the front seat, beside the driver, escaped with minor injuries!
I remember a similar accident that happened to us, when our jeep (Land Rover) was travelling to Bogra on the North Bengal highway, in rainy weather, at around 5:00pm, and about twenty or so miles away from Bogra town. The driver who was tired, missed a left turn in the highway, and rolled over and over down the road embankment, about fifteen feet below, to the paddy fields!
As the host I was sitting beside the driver. The driver and I suffered minor injuries, mostly severe back muscular pain. The villagers had to break open the doors to get us out, and the vehicle was a total wreck!
Unfortunately, one of the guests in the back seat, suffered spinal fracture and was crippled permanently, although he was flown immediately to Bangkok for treatment. Two others in the back suffered fractures of leg, and many cuts and severe abrasions! Luckily, the jeep had a light roof, so the rear passengers did not suffer any head injuries.
In the Pajero, for the ribbed strong steel roof, and possibly with no safety belts or harness being used, the rear passenger's injuries were fatal!
The invisibility of road signs, indicating sharp curves or crossings, because of many unauthorised billboards, was also a pertinent reason. This must be cleared off, as the first step. Possibly dark roads with invisible road signs, which should be in luminous paint, and the driver not familiar with the road, or driving at night could be added reasons to compound the matter.
However, safety set-up for rear seat passengers is a top priority matter for these vehicles, otherwise it will become a death trap for passengers sitting in the rear seats. This matter must be tackled with top priority.
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