Reducing road fatalities requires not only raising drivers’ awareness but demands effective road safety legislation, accountability, and the implementation of an integrated Safe System Approach.
Speakers emphasized the need for effective initiatives at the state and institutional levels to ensure the safety of all road users. The speakers made these remarks at a youth workshop organized by the Health & Nutrition Sector of Dhaka Ahsania Mission on Thursday, 12 November, at 10:00 AM, in the organization’s meeting room in Shyamoli, Dhaka. The workshop focused on the importance of road safety legislation and the need for implementing the Safe System Approach, highlighting various aspects of their effective implementation.
At the workshop, Liton Ershad, Secretary General of Nirapad Sarak Chai (NISCHA), highlighted various road safety issues. He said, “Raising driver awareness alone is not enough to prevent road crashes; safety must be ensured at every level of the road transport system. Every day, countless people lose their lives and many others suffer permanent disabilities due to road crashes in our country. To overcome this situation, an effective, modern, and accountable road safety law is essential. We must reduce road fatalities through proper enforcement of the law, driver training, ensuring vehicle roadworthiness, and establishing discipline in traffic management. Road safety is not the responsibility of any single individual or institution; it is a shared responsibility of the state, relevant authorities, and all road users.”
On the other hand, a session on the need for and importance of the Safe System Approach was conducted by Mahid Hossain Magfi, Joint General Secretary of Nirapad Sarak Andolon. He said, “Road crashes cannot be viewed solely as the result of drivers’ mistakes. Various factors, including road design, vehicle conditions, speed management, traffic management, and law enforcement, contribute to road crashes. The Safe System Approach must be implemented by taking all these factors into account. The primary objective of this approach is to develop a safe road transport system that recognizes the possibility of human error and ensures that no mistake results in the loss of human life. This requires safe road infrastructure, controlled speeds, safe vehicles, responsible road-user behaviour, and prompt post-crash medical care. Young people must also play an important role in raising awareness by actively engaging in the road safety movement.”
The programme was moderated by Marjana Muntahar, Coordinator of the Ahsania Mission YOUTH Forum for Health and Wellbeing. The welcome address was delivered by Muklesur Rahman, Deputy Director of the Health & Nutrition Sector, Dhaka Ahsania Mission.
More than 50 young participants from various youth organizations and educational institutions attended the workshop. Discussions focused on raising youth knowledge of road safety, the role of young people in building safer roads, and the importance of collective initiatives to prevent road crashes.
The participating youth emphasized the need for effective road safety legislation and its proper implementation, accountability of relevant authorities, and the adoption of safe practices in road management to ensure safer roads.
--Press Release