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Road Safety in Bangladesh Realities and Challenges. Hossain Zillur Rahman Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC). Why is road safety a major concern?. A new epidemic: 1.24 million annual deaths / 20-50 million non-fatal injuries Consequences both humanitarian and economic
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Road Safety in BangladeshRealities and Challenges Hossain Zillur Rahman Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC)
Why is road safety a major concern? • A new epidemic: 1.24 million annual deaths / 20-50 million non-fatal injuries • Consequences both humanitarian and economic 1-2% of GDP, 100 billion USD annual loss • Road fatalities are not inevitable 88 countries saw a drop while 87 saw a rise • Urgency of prioritizing 5 million lives can be saved annually through road safety measures
Research strategy • Scope • Assess magnitude of problem • Identify causal factors • Institutional landscape • Action priorities • Multi-disciplinary research team of experts and practitioners • Research strategy • In-depth analysis of official statistics • Review of international experiences • In-depth consultations with key stakeholders • Survey of drivers • Field research on four highway spots: Dhaka-Aricha, Dhaka-Tangail
Vehicles and Roads Registered vehicles (2010) Length of road network, 2012 Total length 21365 km National highways 3580 km Regional highways 4276 km Zila & upazila roads 13509 km Source: Statistical yearbook, 2012 Total 1624862 Cars/4-wheeled light vehicles 529215 Motorized 2/3 wheelers 975682 Heavy trucks81561 Buses 38101 Source: Global Status Report on Road Safety, 2013
Magnitude of problem • Annual deaths 3137 (official statistics: average for 2002-2012) 5162(2013: Nirapadsarak Chai; includes deaths en route and after release) • Fatality index (official statistics): - 20 deaths annually for each 10,000 vehicles (2011) - Decline from 75 deaths per 10,000 vehicles in 2000 • WHO: for each fatality, 20 non-fatal injuries • 3 Problems with data - Under-reporting - Non-fatal accidents ignored - No data on victim profile
Where do accidents occur? • Accident-prone districts Dhaka, Chittagong, Comilla, Tangail, Sirajganj • 208 accident black spots (RHD list) • Accident-prone highway length: 57 km • Most accidents in congestion spots and inter-sections rather than isolated stretches
Laws and Institutions • MVO 1983 is updated version of 1913 law • Major new initiative on new law – RTTA, 2011 but yet to materialize • Institutions BRTA, Metropolitan, district and highway police, RTC, ARI, RHD, LGED
Perceptions on recent progress and setbacks Perceptions on progress Perceptions on setbacks Perceptions % of response ------------------------------------------------ Increased extortion on 62% highways by police/ ruling party activists ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Increased traffic of unlicensed 43% informal transports (nasimon/karimon/easy bikes) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Proliferation of road-side markets 39% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Improper and irregular road 21% repair and maintenance ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Illegal truck stands & parking 20% on highway ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Proliferation of unfit vehicles on the roads 11% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Lack of pedestrian awareness 8% Perception % of response ---------------------------------------------- New roads built and 84% others repaired ---------------------------------------------------- Road dividers/introduction 34% of 1-way system ---------------------------------------------------- Building of fly-overs 32% & over-bridges ---------------------------------------------------- Increase in number of 21% highway police --------------------------------------------------- Some road curves have been 20% straightened