Editorial
Highway to hell
Show no mercy to erratic drivers
What ought to have been a joyous occasion for the extended family of thirteen travelling together to the ancestral home in Sariatpur turned fatal, thanks to the rash driving of a bus driver on the Keranigaj road. The latest incident merely goes to highlight what dreadful conditions exist on highways, where accidents like this happen ten a penny on any given month of the year. What is interesting to note is that in this particular incident, passengers aboard the killer bus had repeatedly asked the driver to slowdown but their protestations fell on deaf ears.
And is it altogether surprising to find both driver and helper absconding after the fatal incident? Isn't it how these things are played out in the numerous accidents we bear witness to with clockwork regularity? A closer scrutiny into the circumstances leading to such tragic loss of life all point to some startling similarities in the accident, i.e. more often than not, it is reckless driving that is to blame. This diehard attitude of drivers of bigger vehicles that they are the kings of the road, giving them carte blanche to drive as they please, break as many traffic rules and regulations when it suits them knowing well that they are protected by the high and mighty in government.
Recent studies by the Accident Research Institute of BUET have revealed that accidents, occurring on our roads and highways can be cut by more than 50 percent, were the authorities to put up road dividers. We are hence at a loss as to why such measures are not put into place by the concerned department. Has human life become so cheap that the expense associated with putting up concrete road dividers in the middle of our highways is considered 'uneconomic'? Since the government has apparently tried and 'failed' to bring some modicum of order in how a driver may obtain license from Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, the least we can do is 'physically' divide the roads so that casualties may be minimised.
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