Abstract

The frequency of road accident has alarmingly increased in recent days in Bangladesh. Every year 10000-12000 lives are lost due to road accident. Death caused by vehicular accident is so frequent in Bangladesh that the country toplists in the world. About 90 percent of road accidents in this county cause a loss of taka 4000 crore a year approximately which is equivalent to two percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It is a matter not only of sorrow but also of shame. We must get rid of these accidental deaths, which tells upon our level of civic sense. Reckless driving, over-speeding, over-loading, lack of traffic knowledge of road users, vehicular defects, bad road condition, lack of skill of the drivers and poor implementation of the traffic laws are also responsible for many road accidents in Bangladesh. These reasons are not beyond human capability to redress. With proper measures road accident can be reduced in a short time. The economic and social costs of road accident are very high; Adherence to traffic rules and regulations could prevent many road accidents and save many life, family and property. The Government has to take a two- pronged initiative to control accidents. One is by improving road conditions, putting up road signs and creating awarness among the drivers, and the other is by restricting easy acquirement of driving licenses and proper implementing of traffic laws. Unless corruption in license distribution is checked and traffic rules are implemented earnestly, the alarming rate of road accidents will continue to increase in Bangladesh.