'Implement coordinated safety policy to reduce road accidents'

The conference also adopted a Dhaka Declaration with 17 road safety priority issues 'that should be addressed with due urgency'.

The conference observed that significant reduction in both road accidents and casualties is possible through enforcement of an effective policy, better roads, enhanced vehicle safety standards and improved public awareness programmes.

The Accident Research Centre (ARC) of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) organised the international conference that began on the Buet campus on August 22.

The Dhaka Declaration has been prepared on the basis of about 76 papers, including 12 keynote papers, presented at the conference by experts from home and abroad.

Around 300 experts from different countries, including the USA, Canada, Sweden, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Nigeria and Thailand, took part in the conference.

The declaration said the most effective and critical measures are to reduce and control speeds, because 'excessive travel speeds are universally acknowledged as having the most detrimental effect on road safety'.

Pointing at the higher rate of pedestrian accidents and fatalities, particularly in Bangladesh, the declaration suggested promoting pedestrians' safety as a priority issue with emphasis on safety of children on roads.

It called for prevention and reduction of dominant accident types, which are major contributors to traffic fatalities and injuries. Such accidents involve hitting pedestrians, head-on collision and skidding off the road.

"Traffic law enforcement is a critical component in reducing accidents and road trauma. Intensified and effective high profile police enforcement should be promoted to deter unsafe behaviours and violations."

Promotion of safety-conscious behaviours of road users through strengthening effective motivational programme is important to reduce road accidents, the declaration said. Road safety education programme should be introduced in public education for children to be better road users, it added.

It also called for adequate funding to support road safety initiatives including research, training and road safety promotional activities.

Prof Dr Md Jobair Bin Alam of Department of Civil Engineering of Buet read out the declaration at the concluding session.

Buet Vice-chancellor Prof Dr Md Alee Murtuza, ARC Director Prof Md Mazharul Hoque, Dean of Faculty of Engineering Prof M Sabder Ali, Dean of Faculty of Architecture Prof Dr Md Shahidul Ameen were also present.