Ambulance to be stationed every 10km on highways: Road Transport Minister

The government plans to station an ambulance at every 10-kilometre interval along highways to ensure faster emergency response after road crashes, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam said on Monday (August 24).

“Every 10 kilometres, an ambulance will be kept ready so that the nearest one can reach an accident site as quickly as possible,” he said at the inauguration of an emergency ambulance and motorcycle service at the Road Bhaban in Tejgaon.

The service will operate round the clock, seven days a week, the minister said.

Sheikh Robiul Alam said nearly 5,000 people die in road crashes every year, stressing that stronger enforcement alone would not be enough to bring the toll down.

He said raising awareness among drivers and pedestrians, alongside stricter enforcement, could help cut road deaths by half by 2030.

The government also plans to establish dedicated emergency units at hospitals located along highways to provide quicker treatment to crash victims, he added.

The minister further announced plans to formulate a new road safety law by 2027.

Health State Minister M A Muhith, who attended the event, said 24 trauma centres would be established alongside highways across the country to ensure prompt medical treatment for road accident victims.