The issue under discussion is once again the sorry state of road safety in the country. Despite countless discussions and debates on the escalating road accidents plaguing our roads and highways, the bitter truth remains – we are stuck in a rut, and things are not getting any better. It is not just alarming; it is downright distressing. It is not just a matter of numbers; it is a matter of lives lost, families shattered, and futures destroyed. The time for action is now, and it is high time our government and relevant bodies stepped up to the plate.

However, to our deepest consternation, we observe that the government authorities are apparently more inclined to engage in a blame game than actually rolling up their sleeves and tackling the root causes of these mishaps.

Case in point: Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity on Sunday (14 January 2024) claimed that a staggering 7,902 lives lost in 6,261 road accidents in 2023. Just a couple of days later, and the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) swooped in with a press conference on Tuesday, dismissing the claims as exaggerated. According to the BRTA’s version, 5,024 lives bid farewell in 5,495 road accidents during the same period.

Now, we are not here to split hairs over statistics, but even if we buy into the BRTA’s figures, it is a bitter pill to swallow. Fourteen lives lost every single day on our roads last year – that is not a statistic; it is a stark reality check. The BRTA, donned as the guardian of the transport sector, cannot just wash its hands of the matter by pointing fingers at conflicting reports. They, along with all relevant authorities, need to step up and address the root causes – most of which are well known – head-on.

The World Bank’s 2022 country report saying road accidents are the leading cause of permanent disability and the fourth leading cause of children’s deaths in Bangladesh underscores the gravity of the situation. The economic cost of unsafe roads, estimated to be approximately 5.3% of the GDP in 2016, further accentuates the need for immediate and effective action.

The reasons behind these accidents are myriad, and all of them are much-discussed. These are faulty vehicles, speeding, unskilled and unfit drivers, irregular working hours for professional drivers, slow-moving vehicles on highways, reckless biking by youths, poor traffic management, and corruption in the transport sector.

In Tuesday’s press conference, BRTA Chairman Nur Mohammad Mazumder himself shed some light on the key issues at play. He pointed out the staggering number of over five lakh expired vehicles still in operation on our roads. It is not just a matter of tagging a vehicle as unfit based on its colour; it is about actively addressing this alarming situation. He emphasised the need for awareness and a social movement to make our roads safer, recognising that without this, the implementation of any safety measures becomes a herculean task.

Acknowledging enforcement weaknesses due to a shortage of magistrates, Nur Mohahammad also highlighted a critical aspect of the problem. It is not just about laying down rules; it is about having the manpower to ensure those rules are followed.

However, to dissect the problem: we are dealing with a trinity of road management here – the design of roads and their supporting cast of infrastructure, the safety habits of road users, and the watchful eye of public sector representatives. These elements are interconnected, and addressing one without the others is like trying to fix a leaky ship with a single bucket. The lack of attention and policy focus on these three aspects showcases a fundamental flaw in how we perceive our developmental journey. Accidents and safety violations will persist, and corruption will continue to milk this sector dry unless we break this cycle.

Sure, the government runs occasional drives to yank unfit vehicles off the streets. People also welcome such measures despite the fact that they have to suffer from acute scarcity of public transportation during the times of such drives as the owners take the unfit vehicles off the roads fearing punishment. However, since the relevant authorities do not maintain a constant and fool proof vigil and the unfit and out-dated vehicles are not replaced by newer ones, such measures cannot bring any positive results. Those unfit vehicles get onto the streets soon after the drives are over. Hence, the authorities need to keep a vigilant eye, not just during the “clean-up” events. We do not just need the removal of old, decrepit vehicles; we need a full-blown replacement with newer, safer options. And while we are at it, let us tackle the other reasons behind road accidents with the seriousness they deserve.

A clear policy roadmap that prioritises efficient management of roads and highways, with a laser focus on citizen safety, is the need of the hour.

This call for action has been echoing across all sections of society for decades, yet the results remain elusive.

It is a vicious loop of corruption, shoddy road management, indifference to safety, accidents, deaths, and hollow promises. The nation is frustrated, and frankly, there is little left to say. These deaths are preventable, and these accidents are avoidable. This is not about politics or hidden agendas – it is a call for action.

The government and its bureaucratic cohorts need to stop the theatrics and start implementing effective measures to curb road accidents or at least bring them down to a bearable level. We have reached the eleventh hour, and the time for rhetoric is over.

The causes and remedies are on the table – it is high time our government takes a bow, designs pragmatic strategies, and executes them with precision. We cannot promise an end to road accidents, but we sure as hell can promise a fight against them. It is time to act, not just talk. Empty promises will not cut it anymore.

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The writer is News Editor of the Daily Sun