Damage in road accidents
The damage in road accidents is infinite. As a result, not only human death, but also thousands of other irreparable losses are imposed on the lives of people.
The following are some of the road accident damage statistics-
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 10 lakh 17 thousand people were killed in road accidents worldwide in 2010. More than 20 million people were injured and about 5 million were maimed. Which is very tragic and unexpected. If the trend of increasing road accidents continues, it is expected that by 2020, the number of road accidents will increase by 60 percent.
According to the Accident Research Center of Bangladesh University of Engineering, 6,047 people were involved in road accidents across the country in 2008 in which 3,64 people were killed and 3,284 injured. One statistic shows that Bangladesh ranks second in the world in terms of casualties in accidents. According to a study by BUET's Accident Research Sector (ARC), an average of 12,000 people are killed and 35,000 injured in road accidents in Bangladesh every year.
Child casualties in road accidents
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 160,000 children die in road accidents worldwide every year. Thousands of children under the age of 15 were injured. In 2010, 98 percent of children killed in road accidents were from underdeveloped and developing countries.
Economic loss due to road accidents
The financial loss due to road accidents in Bangladesh is about 5 thousand crore rupees per year which is two percent of the GDP. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the financial loss from road accidents internationally is about ৫ 520 billion a year. In developing and underdeveloped countries, the amount is 85 billion.
Family and social damage in road accidents
Road accidents make family and social life miserable. This led to a sudden disaster in a family. That grief is like a shell in the chest of the whole family and relatives for the rest of their lives. Many times the society and the country lose their children in road accidents. This accident crippled many forever.
Ways to prevent road accidents
Road accidents are a common occurrence in our country. Very few countries in the world have risky roads like ours. So we have to come forward to prevent road accidents.
Things to do-
1. Prohibition of reckless speeding and overtaking. And for this the maximum speed limit of the car should be tied.
2. Proper enforcement of traffic laws and strict disciplinary action should be taken against violators.
3. Licensing fraud must be prevented.
4. Before issuing the license, the driver's skills and qualifications have to be checked and selected.
5. Fitness, uncertified cars must be prevented from getting on the road.
6. Move pedestrians carefully.
7. Stop carrying extra passengers and goods.
8. Eviction of hat-bazaars and illegal establishments along the highway.
9. Punishment for road accidents i.e.Section 304B of the CRPC to increase the term of punishment from 3 years to 10 years.
10. Extending the provisions of financial compensation and punishment mentioned in sections 143, 148 and 149 of the Motor Vehicles Ordinance.
11. To make the role of road safety related laws more active.
12. To check the defects of vehicles on the highway every month through mobile courts.
13. Every car driver has to remember that life is worth more than time.
14. In addition to government initiatives, it is possible to prevent road accidents through the active participation of transport owners, transport workers 'unions, drivers' associations and the public.
Road Safety and Government
The government sets up various agencies or authorities at different times to ensure road safety. The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) was formed in 1986. Earlier, the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) was formed through an ordinance issued on February 4, 1981 to improve the road system. Besides, Dhaka Vehicle Coordination Board (DTCB) has been formed and is working to prevent road accidents by forming these agencies or authorities. Besides, an accident research center has been set up at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). Highway police have been deployed on the country's roads or highways. On June 11, 2005, highway police were deployed on the country's highways. If the government and these agencies are always vigilant, then Bangladesh must move forward to prevent road accidents.
Every human being has to die. But no one wants to die in an accident. We all want a guarantee of normal death. No matter how big the problem of road accident is, we have to work to prevent it through the overall efforts and sincerity of all. So that no other mother's lap is empty. We all need to be aware. So let our slogan today be 'I want safe roads.'