It is widely discussed how unsafe the roads and highways across the country are. The root causes of road accidents are also repeatedly discussed.
It is necessary to examine why the desired results are not being achieved despite various steps being taken to make the country’s roads and highways safer.
Recently, Dhaka Ahsania Mission and Bangladesh Medical Students Society’s Health Professional Group have provided health check-ups to 936 drivers from a free health and eye camp organized by the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA). The examination revealed a terrible picture of their physical condition.
It says that one of the causes of road accidents is the health problems of the drivers, that is, their unfitness to drive.
According to a survey by DTCA and Dhaka Ahsania Mission, 79 percent of drivers who participated in the health check-up are physically ‘unfit’; 75 percent of drivers suffer from addition, 62 percent have diabetes.
According to medical experts, when high blood pressure and diabetes go out of control, various complications arise — a sick driver can suddenly lose consciousness while driving. A terrible accident could happen at any moment.
On the other hand, the Road Safety Foundation says, 38,227 people lost their lives in 35,792 road accidents in the country from January 2020 to September 2025 and 61,070 people were injured.
In addition, 4,971 people died in 5,017 road accidents in the country from January to September this year. More than 10,000 people were injured in these accidents.
Many accidents occur due to reckless attitude of drivers. More importance should be given to solving this problem. In addition to creating skilled drivers, they should be given adequate rest.
The quality of life of transport workers including drivers should also be improved.
According to multiple studies by BUET, around 7o lakh illegal three-wheeled small vehicles ply on the roads, apart from registered vehicles.
In addition, there is a large number of battery or mechanical rickshaws.
Everything that needs to be done to prevent chaos on the roads must be done.
It must be ensured that incompetent and unlicensed drivers cannot drive on the roads.
It is not possible to establish order on the roads without rooting out corruption.
Therefore, coordinated steps must be taken to establish order on the roads. Timely steps must also be taken to drive out the ghosts within the city.
