Reckless driving leads to fatalities on roads

The roads and highways of Bangladesh have become a hub for tragic accidents. Every day, countless lives are lost or permanently scarred due to road accidents. Families are left devastated, and many are pushed into poverty. One of the primary causes behind these accidents is the reckless speeding by overworked drivers forced to meet unreasonable trip quotas set by transport owners.

Statistics reveal that nearly 10,000 road accidents occur annually in Bangladesh, resulting in approximately 5,000 deaths and over 10,000 injuries. Property damages from these accidents amount to nearly 1,000 crore taka every year. Investigations show that over-speeding and exhausted drivers operating vehicles under extreme fatigue are major contributors to these accidents. Transport owners often pressure drivers to increase trip numbers, compelling them to work beyond their physical limits, leading to disastrous consequences.

In August 2012, a Sakura Paribahan bus met with a tragic accident in Bhanga, Faridpur, while en route to Dhaka from Barisal. The crash claimed 12 lives. Court records show that the driver, who had been driving for 16 consecutive hours, was instructed by the transport company to complete three continuous trips due to a shortage of drivers. The driver, fatigued and drowsy, lost control of the bus, which collided with a tree. A lawsuit seeking 20 crore taka in damages is still pending in court.

In another instance, on April 25, 2022, Ainul Hossain was transporting his wife’s body in an ambulance from Dhaka to their home in Gaibandha. The ambulance collided head-on with a Shyamoli Paribahan bus in Bogura, killing Hossain on the spot and severely injuring his three sons and the ambulance driver. The driver succumbed to his injuries later that evening. A subsequent court ruling ordered Shyamoli Paribahan to compensate the victims with 1.71 crore taka. Investigations revealed the bus driver had been driving for nearly 20 hours with only a two-hour break.

Drivers and helpers often complain about the pressure from owners to complete additional trips. A driver from Hanif Paribahan admitted, "Sometimes, we take extra trips willingly to earn more, but most of the time, we are forced to drive additional trips to far-off destinations. On the return journey, fatigue often sets in, increasing the likelihood of accidents." Another driver noted, "Accidents frequently happen toward the end of a long journey when exhaustion peaks."

According to the Road Transport Act 2018, companies are held accountable for violations. Section 106(1) states that if a company is directly involved in an offense, its owners, directors, or executives can be held liable unless they prove they were unaware or tried their best to prevent the offense. Despite this, transport owners often escape accountability.

Government regulations stipulate that no driver should operate a vehicle for more than five consecutive hours and must be allowed adequate rest between trips. However, these guidelines are routinely ignored. Drivers are frequently forced to complete multiple trips within a day, compromising safety standards.

Transport owners often shift the blame. The Managing Director of Sakura Paribahan stated, "We adhere to all regulations, but accidents can happen for various reasons. Some drivers take extra trips voluntarily for overtime pay, but we are monitoring this." Similarly, the General Manager of Green Line Paribahan remarked, "Owners are often unfairly blamed for accidents. However, we have received complaints about extra trips and have issued warnings."

The reckless speeding by exhausted drivers is a grave issue that demands immediate attention. Enforcing stricter adherence to driving hours, increasing the number of drivers, and holding transport companies accountable are essential steps to mitigate the rising fatalities on Bangladesh's roads. Awareness campaigns and better oversight are needed to ensure that human lives are not sacrificed in the pursuit of profit.