A Survey on Awareness of Traffic Safety

among Two wheeler Drivers in

Bangladesh

Tarek Aziz Rana

LLM (International Law)

School of Law, Lovely Professional University

ranacbiu@gmail.com

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Introduction:

The main cause of road accidents in the country is the driver's careless attitude and poor
roadways. 1 million illegal drivers1, 50 percent negligent driving and 50 percent defective
highways are the main cause of road accidents in the country. There are major engineering errors
in the construction of roads and bridges. The media does not get 25 percent of the road accidents
in the country2. There is no arrangement of safety sign, driver's warning, free-line approach and
equalization of center-and-center ball at most bends of the highway. The loss due to road
accidents is about Tk 5,000 crore a year.3 Data from BRAC's research shows that only 5 percent
of the news in the media is printed on the first or last page with importance. Road accidents do
not matter in the news unless a prominent or influential person of the society or many people are
killed at the same time. Research reports were presented at the 'Information Sharing Session on
Road Safety and Media Reporting' workshop on Wednesday at the BRAC Center in the capital.
Ahmed Nazmul Hossain, Director of Road Safety Program, BUET Assistant Professor SM
Sohail Mahmud, former Deputy Director of BRTA, Abdur Rab Md. SM Sohail Mahmud says
After the Natore accident, it was immediately reported that there was no problem on the road.
But even though the road was smoothly carpeting, the turning point was flawed and the kind of
banking, security sign and speed control that was supposed to provide road safety in the bend
was not done. As a result, the collision occurred at an excessive speed. Earlier, a study by BUET
showed that there was no safety net on either side of the bridge, there was no walkway with
railings for security at the bridge. Apart from this, accidents are occurring due to the sudden
intercrossing of the straight road on the two sides of the Bangabandhu Bridge. Such big flaws are
being left in the construction of roads and bridges just to save some money, he said. The result is
a tragic accident. He proposed to take action against those involved in the construction of
defective roads. Ahmed Nazmul Hossain said the highest number of people was killed in road
accidents and the number of people was increasing. As a result, numerous families are gone. It is
also having a negative impact on national development. The estimated loss of road accidents is

1
A million unlicensed drivers? , available at: https://dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2019/07/29/a-million-
unlicensed-drivers, (visited on 4 November 2019)
2
Road Accidents in Bangladesh: An Alarming Issue, available at:
https://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/road-accidents-bangladesh-alarming-issue, (visited on 4
November 2019)
3
National Road Safety Strategic Action Plan by BTRC (2018-2019)

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around Rs. Referring to the survey conducted on five drivers, he said that 50 percent of the
drivers do not drive according to traffic laws, 1 lakh drivers are driving without a valid license.
Abdur Robb said that the proposed road transport and traffic law has provided for the formation
of an independent inquiry committee after each accident. In addition, the penalties for violating
traffic laws and for reckless conduct are being increased by about five times. The research
reports also say, Due to the relatively good management of luxury buses, the accident rate is
almost zero. The road accident was not found in any of the major media outlets, even at the 27th
annual Salatami. Researchers urged the media to play a constructive role in preventing road
accidents.

Current Status of Road Safety in Bangladesh:

The World Health Organization's Global Road Safety Situation Report, released last month,
states that the number of road accidents in Bangladesh is 25,700 a year. The report is based on
the data of 20.

Data from the Directorate of Roads and Highways (Saoj) says that 12 per cent of the national and
regional highways in the country do not have proper signage. At least 5km of national highway
is seriously hazardous. And Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) estimates that there
are 1 lakh vehicles operating in the country. Of these, the number of non-fitness vehicles is
around 1 lakh. At the same time, there are around 2 million drivers for different types of vehicles
in the country. That is, 1 lakh vehicles are running through 'fake' driver. That is, more than 5
percent of the cars are being run by 'fake' drivers. In August last year, the government made
several promises to bring discipline after students took to the streets demanding road safety.
Various departments immediately started to clash and stopped. Despite the traffic week
observed, there was no improvement in the mode of transport in Dhaka city itself.

The new 'Road Transport Act, 20' has come into effect from today. More than a year after the
enactment of this widely discussed law, it began to be implemented. The government has not
been able to implement the law in the face of obstruction of transport owners and workers.

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Recent Development in Road Safety Legislation:

On October 22, the law announced the date of action, and the government issued a gazette. The
new law provides for severe punishment. If the law violates the law, the new law will be
punished from today.

Under the new law, all forms of punishment have been increased. Under the new law, the fine for
violating traffic signals has been increased from 3 to a maximum of 3 thousand, while the fine
for wearing helmets has been increased from Tk 20 to a maximum of Tk 5,000. If the seatbelt is
not tied, the driver will have to pay a maximum fine of Tk 5,000 for talking on mobile phones.
Injuring someone with reckless driving could result in a fine of Tk 3 lakh and up to three years in
jail. Under the new law, drivers must pass an eighth grade, an assistant fifth, to get a driver's
license. 12 points were placed against the driving license. Breaking the law, licenses can be
deducted without penalty. License revoked if all 12 points are deducted. It is mandatory to give
the driver and his assistant an assignment.

If you do not show the rent chart on public transport or demand or collect additional fare, one
month jail or fine of Tk 1,000 will be deducted from the driver's 5 points.

Penalty for illegal modification of contract carriage or violation of the provisions of section 5
regarding extra fare claim or collection - If any person violates the provisions of section 5, he
shall be sentenced to a maximum term of six months or a fine of Tk 1,000 or both. Additional 5
points will be deducted.

Penalty for violation of section 4 of the duty of conductor as a conductor on a public transport
without a conductor's license - If any person violates the provisions of section 4, he will be
sentenced to a maximum of one month imprisonment or a maximum fine of Tk 5,000.

Penalty for violation of section 4 of the motor vehicle without registration of motor vehicle - If
any person violates the provisions of section 4, he will be sentenced to a maximum of six months
imprisonment or a maximum fine of Tk 1,000 or both.

Penalty for violating the provisions of Article 8 of the prohibition on the use and display of fake
registration numbers - If any person violates Article 1, he shall be imprisoned for a maximum

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period of two years but a minimum of six months or a maximum of five lakh rupees, or a fine of
at least one lakh rupees or Both will be penalized.

Penalty for violation of the provisions of section 20 regarding transfer of registration of the
transferor due to change or transfer of ownership of the motor vehicle - If any transfer recipient
violates the provisions of section 29, he will be sentenced to a maximum of one month
imprisonment or a maximum fine of Tk 5,000.

Penalty for violating Article 28 of the Risk Driving Act without a fitness certificate or using an
expired fitness certificate or improper economic life or fitness, if a person violates the provisions
of section 29, he is sentenced to a maximum of six months or a maximum of 2 months. The
money will be punished with a fine or both. Penalty for violation of section 20 of the motor
vehicle without tax-tokens or using expired tax-tokens - If any person violates the provisions of
section 20, he will be fined a maximum of Tk 1,000.

Penalty for violating the provisions of section 27 of the use of transport vehicles in public places
without a route permit - If a person violates the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 29, he is
sentenced to a maximum of three months or a fine of Tk 20,000 or both. Will be

Penalty for violation of Article 25 of the country for non-entry of motor vehicle / mass transit
route permit for foreign nationals entering Bangladesh - If any foreign citizen violates Article 20,
he / she will be fined Tk. 3000. Penalty for violation of Article 8 of the Commercial Use of
Motor Vehicles - If a person violates Article 5, he will be sentenced to a maximum of three
months imprisonment or a maximum fine of Tk 20,000 or both, and shall be deducted from the
driver in addition to 5 points.

Demonstration of rent charts on public transportation and penalties for violation of the provisions
of section 4 of the demand for extra rent or collection of fixed rent - If any person violates the
provisions of sub-section (1) and (3) of section 4, he shall be sentenced to a maximum of one
month imprisonment or maximum. The fine will be punished with a fine of Tk 8,000 or both and
the additional 5 points will be deducted as additional for the driver.

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On July 25 last year, two college students were killed in a reckless bus crash on the airport's road
in the capital. In the face of the agitation, the cabinet approved the road transport law on August
7 of that year. After passing Parliament in September of that year, the Gazette was published on
October 9.

SURVEY DESIGN AND SAMPLE COVERAGE:

Present study was conducted on 10 two wheeler drivers for the purpose of ascertaining
knowledge of Road Rules and Road Signs. However, level of education and economic conditions
were same. The main purpose was to compare the level of awareness regarding different Traffic
Safety Rule and Road Signs. The questionnaire was prepared in English languages. 20 minutes
was the average time for filling up the questionnaire.

Random Route Technique (Cluster Sampling) was used which was based on a systematic
sampling of clusters ensuring an implicit stratification of the possible heterogeneity within a city.

Interviews were conducted face to face by interviewers using paper questionnaires. Interviews
were conducted in English.

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Finding from the Study:

1. Driving License:

Driving License is mandatory for drive a vehicle. But 60% of the driver has
driven their vehicle without driving license. Only 40% have Driving License. A
lot of time needs to make a driving license in Bangladesh. This is the main reason
for people drive vehicle without license especially two wheeler.

Driving License

Yes
40%

No
60%

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2. Go to driving school:

Only 20% go to driving school for learn driving, other 60% learn driving by self
and 20% of people don’t know about driving school. Basically, people not wish to
go a driving school and take a formal course of driving. Because people think that
to learn driving go to driving school is waste of time and luxury.

Driving School

Yes
Irrelevent
20%
20%

No
60%

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3. Knowledge of Road Regulation:

Knowledge of road regulation plays an important role for road safety. 71% of the
driver knows about road regulation. They have read rules and regulation before
taking the vehicle to road for the first time. On the other hand 29% driver don’t
aware about road regulation.

Knowledge of Road Regulation

No
29%

Yes
71%

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 4. Taking Short-Cut

Every year the lives of approximately 1.35 million people are cut short as a result
of a road traffic crash. Between 20 and 50 million more people suffer non-fatal
injuries, with many incurring a disability as a result of their injury.4 In our country
89% driver are take shortcuts during driving, on the other hand only 11% driver
are not taking short cuts.

Taking Short Cut

No
11%

Yes
89%

4
Road Traffic Injuries, available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/road-traffic-injuries,
(visited on 04 November 2019)

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5. Rearview Mirror Before Overtaking:

Rear view mirror is an important part of vehicle. This important mirror enables
drivers to see the road and traffic that is behind their vehicle without having to
turn their heads and look across the road. If it is adjusted rightly, drivers should
be able to see the sides of the vehicle in their rear-view mirror. 56% of the driver
looks rearview mirror before overtaking; on the other hand 44% driver not looks
rearview mirror.

Look Rearview Mirror

No
44%
Yes
56%

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6. Overtake from Left:

Overtake from left side is a major problem in our country. The practice is very much
common in two wheeler driver. 56% of drivers overtake from left side. Various type
of accident happened everyday due to taking overtake from left.

Overtake from Left

No
44%

Yes
56%

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 7. Using Mobile while Ride:

Drivers using mobile phones are approximately 4 times5 more likely to be involved in a
crash than drivers not using a mobile phone. Hands-free phones are not much safer
than hand-held phone sets, and texting considerably increases the risk of a crash. 40%
of the driver use mobile phone while driving and 60% driver said they never use mobile
phone during ride.

Using Mobile

Sometimes
No 40%
60%

5
Road safety is everyone responsibility, available at: http://www.searo.who.int/bangladesh/road-safety-
week/en/, (visited on: 04 November 2019)

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8. Look for Speed Indication:

Speed indication board showed the max speed limit to the driver. It helps driver
to limit their speed. But 52% of driver not looks for speed limit while driving. Due
to this drivers drive their vehicles more than speed limit.

Speed Indication

Yes
No 48%
52%

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 9. Wear Helmet:

Wearing helmet can reduce risk of a serious brain injury and death because during
a fall or collision, most of the impact energy is absorbed by the helmet, rather
than your head and brain.6 But 60% of driver not wear helmet during ride. Only
40% are wear helmet. When two people travel with one vehicle only driver wear
helmet in most of the time.

Wear Helemet

Yes
40%

No
60%

6
Helmet Safety: Keep a Lid On It, available at: https://www.rush.edu/health-wellness/discover-health/helmet-
safety-keep-lid-it, (visited on 04 November 2019).

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Recommendation:

In our country, people are more inclined to disobey traffic laws. No one really cares about the law unless
you fear punishment. One of the main reasons for pedestrians not obeying the law is to try and save
time. This is associated with a lack of security at footover bridges or underpasses. There may be
snatchers and drug addicts, often fearing that people want to cross the main road to avoid these places.
In this case, I think it is necessary to ensure security by increasing police outposts in these places and
providing strong light. In addition, when people start using these footover bizarre and underpass, these
places will be free of anti-social activities. I also think the traffic police should keep an eye on the zebra
crossings so that the traffic signal does not get pressed under the car.

Conclusion:

From this study it is concluded that with the better trainings of the learner drivers and testing
techniques for issuing the license will reduce number of accidents. Awareness program on road safety
from the student level will also assist in reducing the accidents at all levels.

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