Editorial
Deaths during holidays
Absence of highway patrol acutely felt
ACCIDENTS on roads and waterways take a huge toll of human lives in the country during Eid holidays every year. This time it was no different. Records show 36 people died and about 200 were injured in road and launch accidents in the last five days across the country. We express our condolences for the deceased and sympathy for their bereaved families and the injured.
Loss of human lives in accidents always invokes a sense of despondency in us all, especially when we know that many such accidents could have been prevented if the officials concerned for highway traffic management were proactive and dutiful in implementing the rules and regulations concerning overloading and overtaking. Research work done by a wing at BUET has pinpointed some vital reasons for road accidents, and given pragmatic recommendations as to how the accident frequency could be brought down to the minimum. The first and foremost reason cited was the lethal combination of inexperienced drivers venturing out with faulty vehicles. As such, monitoring of vehicle fitness was given top priority in the recommendations. They have also blamed faulty design of highways in particular where there are many blind spots and hazardous twists and turns. Overloaded and over-speeding buses or trucks often fail to negotiate such spots and cause accidents to happen.
The presence of patrol cars with police officials on highways was recommended for curbing the tendency to over-speed and accordingly some modern vehicles were also added to the police fleet to this effect. But we have yet to see these vehicles being used for the purpose they were meant to serve. Given the span of inter-district highway network the highway patrol squads must be a vibrant reality.
There is no denying that the incidence of road and launch accidents can be minimised to a great extent if the designated authorities step up vigil and strictly enforce rules and regulations. We have spent a lot of time on research and deliberations. Now is the time to implement the recommendations without ado.
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