GAZIPUR: Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said reckless driving and overtaking were mainly responsible for Monday's deadly accident in Natore that left 34 people dead and 50 others injured."In spite of the formation of a three-member probe body to investigate the causes of mishap, I have learnt that Monday's accident in Natore happened due to reckless driving and overtaking," he told reporters at Mouchak in Gazipur on his way to Dhaka from Natore Tuesday afternoon.
The minister said the number of accidents has gone down substantially owing to improvements in road communications. Because of this, the ECNEC approved a Tk 165 crore project last week to address 144 accident-prone spots on roads and highways across the country.
"We have initiated the movement for road safety and I urged the country's youths to take part in the movement," he said.
The minister also said the number of speed-breakers or humps on the roads and highways would be reduced by fifty per cent to prevent accidents.
Obaidul Quader further said right now the country's major movement is to check road accidents. "Speed-breakers have been identified as one of the major causes of accidents. So, the number of speed-breakers will be reduced as soon as possible," he said.
The Road Transport and Bridges Minister also said the government is working for prevention of road accidents. "But, we have to create awareness against reckless driving and overtaking," he said.
Dhaka Divisional Additional Engineer Engr Aftab Uddin Ahmed, Executive Engineer of Gazipur Roads Division Mohibul Huque and Roads and Highways Department officials were present.
ZA