Driving towards safer roads

Road safety is a critical issue that affects countless lives worldwide, and Bangladesh is no exception. Road traffic deaths and injuries in Bangladesh have been a silent epidemic. Road mishaps are not only family tragedies they also hinder economic growth and sustainable development.

With a rapidly growing population and an increasing number of vehicles on the roads, ensuring the safety of commuters has become a top priority. Road crashes kill more than 4,000 Bangladeshis every year and countless more are seriously injured or disabled. In a commendable move, Bangladesh has joined hands with the World Bank (WB) to tackle this pressing issue and implement measures that will improve road safety across the country.

Bangladesh, a densely populated South Asian nation, has been grappling with road accidents for years. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the country has one of the highest road traffic accident rates globally, with thousands of lives lost and many more injured each year. Factors such as poor infrastructure, reckless driving, lack of awareness, and inadequate enforcement of traffic rules contribute to this alarming situation.

Recognising the urgency of the matter, the government of Bangladesh, in collaboration with the World Bank, has launched the Road Safety improvement project to improve road safety, and reduce fatalities and injuries from road accidents in selected cities, high-risk highways, and district roads.

The Road Safety Project, which receives $358 million in financing from the World Bank, is the first dedicated road safety project in South Asia supported by the World Bank.

On two national highways — N4 (Gazipur-Elenga) and N6 (Natore to Nawabganj) — the project will pilot comprehensive road safety measures, including improved engineering designs, signage and marking, pedestrian facilities, speed enforcement, and emergency care. These measures will help reduce road traffic deaths by more than 30 per cent on these two highways.

To make the highways and urban roads safer, in five divisions — Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Mymensingh — the project will install road signs, dividers, footpaths, raised zebra crossings, speed breakers, and bus bays. Through this project and other ongoing initiatives, the World Bank is helping Bangladesh make roads safer for its people.

Fast access to medical facilities and trauma care is crucial in saving lives from road crashes. The project will pilot ambulance services, including bike-ambulances, with a toll-free number to take road crash victims to the hospital quickly along selected highways and roads. Further, the project will upgrade trauma care facilities in selected district hospitals, and Upazila Health Complexes.

The collaboration between Bangladesh and the World Bank in addressing road safety is a significant step towards creating a safer environment for all road users. The road safety improvement project brings together a multi-faceted approach that focuses on infrastructure, institutional capacity, education, and emergency services. By tackling the issue comprehensively, Bangladesh is paving the way for a future where road accidents are significantly reduced, and lives are saved.

However, it is crucial to ensure effective implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the project. The government must allocate adequate resources, engage with local communities, and involve relevant stakeholders in the process. Regular assessments and data-driven analysis will help identify areas for improvement and inform future road safety initiatives. Improving road safety requires a collective effort from all members of society.

The government should have plans to upgrade and construct roads, highways, and intersections to meet international safety standards. This includes improving road geometry, installing proper signage, and implementing measures to separate vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists from motorised traffic.