Road Safety Law Must Not Remain a Promise

Road crashes have become a major public health, development and economic crisis in Bangladesh. Every day, many people lose their lives, while hundreds more suffer injuries, many of which leave them permanently disabled. Each death is not only an irreparable loss for a family but also a long-term burden on the country’s economy, healthcare system and social fabric.

Against this backdrop, the government’s recent commitment to improving road safety is both important and timely. Speaking at the United Nations High-Level Meeting on Road Safety at UN Headquarters in New York, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam announced that the government would finalise, approve and enact a comprehensive Road Safety Law by December 2027, drawing on the Safe System Approach and international best practices. He also reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to reducing road crash deaths and serious injuries by 50 per cent by 2030, in line with global road safety targets.

This announcement deserves appreciation. For many years, road safety experts, researchers, civil society organisations and advocacy groups have been calling for a comprehensive Road Safety Law. The government’s commitment is therefore a welcome step that aligns with these long-standing demands.

According to the Road Safety Foundation, during just 13 days of the Eid-ul-Azha holiday period, 281 people were killed and 837 injured in road crashes. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity reported that between 21 May and 4 June, 402 people lost their lives and 1,294 were injured in 394 road mishaps.

According to the World Health Organisation, approximately 31,578 people die in road crashes in Bangladesh every year�"an average of about 87 deaths a day, or three to four every hour. That translates to around 2,632 deaths every month and nearly 607 every week. These alarming figures clearly demonstrate that road safety is no longer just a transport issue�"it is a national emergency.

The economic consequences are equally severe. International studies estimate that road crashes cost developing countries between 3 and 5 per cent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) every year. For a developing country like Bangladesh, this translates into enormous economic losses through medical expenses, reduced productivity, the loss of skilled human resources, and the long-term costs of rehabilitation.

Recent statistics further highlight the seriousness of the situation. According to the Road Safety Foundation, during just 13 days of the Eid-ul-Azha holiday period, 281 people were killed and 837 injured in road crashes. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity reported that between 21 May and 4 June, 402 people lost their lives and 1,294 were injured in 394 road mishaps. These figures indicate that road safety remains a major challenge, particularly during festive travel periods.

The primary causes of road crashes include excessive speeding, reckless overtaking, unskilled drivers, unfit vehicles, driving while fatigued or under the influence of drugs, violations of traffic laws, and unsafe behaviour by pedestrians. Behind these immediate causes, however, lie deeper systemic issues, including weak law enforcement and a culture of impunity.

Although the Road Transport Act 2018 is currently in force, it mainly focuses on transport administration, vehicle registration, and driver licensing. Modern road safety, however, requires a broader and more integrated approach that gives equal importance to safe roads, safe vehicles, safe speeds, safe road users, and effective post-crash emergency care. This is why Bangladesh urgently needs a dedicated and comprehensive Road Safety Law.

The WHO and the United Nations recommend that effective road safety legislation should be built on the internationally recognised Safe System Approach. Encouragingly, the government has also announced the development of a National Speed Management Manual and Helmet Use Implementation Guidelines. If implemented promptly and effectively, these initiatives could significantly improve road safety across the country.

Nevertheless, enacting the law is only the first step. Effective implementation will be the real challenge. This requires the installation of automated speed enforcement cameras, digital traffic monitoring systems, mandatory drug and alcohol testing, regulated working hours and compulsory rest periods for professional drivers, transparent driver licensing procedures, technology-based vehicle fitness inspections, independent road crash investigation mechanisms, and road safety education from the school level. At the same time, greater investment is needed in pedestrian-friendly infrastructure to protect vulnerable road users.

A truly effective Road Safety Law will also require close coordination among relevant ministries, law enforcement agencies, local government institutions, road safety experts, civil society organisations, and transport sector stakeholders. Without adequate funding, strong political commitment, and sustained implementation, the intended benefits of the law cannot be fully achieved.