Road safety in Bangladesh
Photo: A.M.Ahad/ driknews
After only living in Bangladesh for 18 weeks now, I am still curious as to how driver training is carried out, if any, to achieve the standard of driving and road safety seen on the roads daily. Before moving to Bangladesh, I was working and running my own business in England as an approved driving instructor (ADI) teaching both civilians and military pupils. Could you try and help me to understand, if possible, how the theory, driver training, driver tests and follow up training are done? Is there any training done pre-licencing in colleges or schools to help introduce pupils to the dangers and benefits of safer driving for life? It saddens and maddens me equally to constantly read in the press and hear from colleagues about the loss of life and injuries caused due to poor drivers, vehicles and road conditions. I totally understand the differences between our two countries, but the basic subjects of the UK “Highway Code” and the Driving Standards Agency (DSA Safer Driving for Life) are globally acknowledged as some of the best templates for all road users. In my daily duties in Bangladesh, I very rarely see any use of these 2 publications or standards. Government ministers and their working parties seem to travel enough internationally looking at “how they do it there” or surround themselves with qualified people to advise on issues, but why then the basic “Zebra Crossing for pedestrians” is painted on a road with no point at all to anybody driving on the road. A vast majority of the drivers will never stop to let people cross on them. I have e-mailed various organisations during my time living here in Dhaka but with no replies to any of my queries which I find strange as they are really basic questions. Could someone show or tell me where road safety has improved following implementation of road signs, markings or policing during the last couple of years? I don't apologise for sounding negative on this issue but if there are any positives to be found please could someone let me know, there are too many people dying on the roads!
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments