Editorial
Highway safety concern
Take WHO report seriously
RISING toll of fatalities due to road mishaps has impelled the world Health Organisation (WHO) to launch a road safety programme- internationally. Admittedly, Bangladesh's highways are highly accident-prone with a casualty figure at 5, 000 annually according to the government estimate. But the figure provided by the WHO is three to four times higher. The gap in figures is attributable to the fact that many fatal road accidents often go unreported.
Ours are among the most accident-prone highways in the world. And the death toll on the roads beats the fatalities from malaria. Now that the issue has caught a UN body's attention, it is expected that the government would draw on its programme to enhance public awareness about road safety as well as take effective measures to reduce the growing number of deaths on highways.
Before addressing the concern, the first step would be to identify the primary causes of fatal accidents. The WHO has focussed more on the physical flaws in infrastructures. The roads and highways with their inherent construction defects, narrow width and too many twists and turns are undoubtedly a major source of accidents. Redesigning and reconstructing the defective roads with the help of UN programme will contribute significantly towards ensuring road safety. At the same time, raising the awareness level of the road users, especially of the drivers, passengers and pedestrians is also a major area of concern. Skill of the drivers and condition of the vehicles running on the roads also demand serious attention given that there are many inexperienced drivers with fake licences and unfit transports.
Costs of treating and rehabilitating the seriously injured victims are an issue. Damage to property, lost output, medical and human costs eat up around 1.5 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according a government estimate. The cumulative impact of the road mishaps makes it a very vital area of national concern and must be addressed in earnest.
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