Why is the government allowing unfit vehicles on the roads?
We are quite frustrated at the lack of efforts from government agencies to prevent the avalanche of road crashes. According to Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, which just released the crash figures of July, 576 people were killed and 1,055 injured in 505 road crashes last month. Reports by other road safety organisations are likely to follow, as they usually do, but there may not be much change in the numbers. These reports, unfortunately, never seem to be taken seriously by those in charge, who for years promised reforms to make our roads safe but never really delivered. Instead, they are often found to be taking decisions in favour of the powerful transport associations and owners who are mostly responsible for today's grim scenario.
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For instance, the government has recently put on hold an order that set a limit to the economic life of buses and trucks, which, according to transport experts, is essential to ensure road safety – since old and unfit vehicles are a major reason behind road crashes. What could be the reason behind staying such a directive? Even one day without road limits is one day too many in our present context. Currently, there are over 74,000 registered buses, trucks and other commercial vehicles (as of April) that are past their economic lifespan, according to the limit set by the government in May this year. Just imagine the amount of damage that these and other soon-to-be-expired vehicles can do to us, including by polluting the air and contributing to road crashes.
Previously, we have seen how the authorities suspended the implementation of several sections of the Road Transport Act-2018 for months following a strike by transport associations in late 2019, and how they prepared a draft later to amend the act, reducing fines under 11 sections and punishment under four sections. All this is proof of the unchecked power and undue concessions that transport associations continue to enjoy while the authorities turn a blind eye to the woeful state of our road safety situation. This must change.
We urge the government to prioritise road safety over the demand of the transport associations. Experts have already identified the areas where work needs to be done. Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, for example, has particularly highlighted several factors – such as the increasing number of motorcycles, plying of slow-moving vehicles on highways, violation of traffic rules, faulty construction work on highways, dangerous overtaking, etc. – which must be addressed. Additionally, the importance of taking all unfit vehicles – and all unskilled/unlicensed drivers – out of our roads cannot be stressed enough. The authorities must take these steps for the sake of citizens.
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