Initiate traffic signal system like in developed countries

About 20 years ago, traffic lights could still be seen on some of the streets of Dhaka. Many roads didn’t even require the presence of traffic police. Cars would stop at a red light and move forward when it turned green. But today, those traffic lights have all but vanished. Now, the only guiding force on the streets is the hand signals of traffic police. In the scorching sun or drenching rain, traffic police must manually manage traffic signals, which is unbefitting of any metropolitan city. In this digital era, such a manual system is not only disappointing but also inhumane.

The first traffic light was introduced in Parliament Square, London, in 1868. Even in Bangladesh, traffic lights existed during the Pakistan era. Forty years ago, even in cities like Rangpur, people followed traffic lights while crossing streets. After independence, traffic lights were introduced in all district towns of the country. But today, they are almost entirely absent.

What caused this? While the country's electricity system has improved, and various digital services have been introduced, why did the most essential traffic lights disappear? There are several reasons. Before the recent mass uprisings, chaos had increased on the roads and throughout the country. Unfit vehicles were common on the roads. Traffic police were not only controlling traffic congestion but also managing much of the irregularities and corruption. Despite repeated demands to reform the traffic system to reduce congestion, no government has ever seriously addressed the issue. Even in 2018, students took to the streets demanding "Safe Roads" and took charge of traffic management themselves. However, in the 15 years of its rule, the Awami League government has not taken any significant lessons in road management.

In any developed country, traffic police do not stand on the streets to control traffic in this manner. Even on the busiest roads of developed countries, people follow traffic lights. Cars stop at a red light even on deserted roads in the middle of the night. This is because of a well-developed system. Any system has a psychological impact. When people become accustomed to moving based on hand signals, they will try to find ways to bypass the person controlling them, thinking that a specific individual is controlling their movement. But when people become accustomed to a proper system, they learn to control themselves.

Traffic lights are not just a directive; they symbolize a comprehensive management system. Red means stop, and green means go. These symbols teach people self-regulation. The severe traffic congestion in Dhaka cannot be alleviated by traffic police alone. What is needed is a complete overhaul of the management system. A call for a new awakening has been made in the country; students are striving to bring about change in every aspect. We hope that exemplary changes will also come to the roads. Unfit vehicles will be removed. Noise pollution will decrease. Traffic congestion will lessen. Traffic lights will replace traffic police. Passengers and drivers will also become more conscious in their movements. To the interim government, we say: make these changes swiftly.