Experts Stress Behaviour Change, Not Law Alone, to Cut Road Crashes
Experts have stressed building responsible behaviour among drivers, passengers and pedestrians — not law enforcement alone — to reduce road crashes. They also called for closing data gaps so the true picture of crashes emerges, ensuring safe child seats in vehicles, and strengthening emergency care after crashes.
The remarks came on Monday (19 October) at a discussion organised by the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research Bangladesh (CIPRB) ahead of National Road Safety Day on 22 October, as part of the observance of the day.
Chaired by CIPRB executive director Dr Aminur Rahman, the discussion heard a keynote paper from Kazi Borhan Uddin, programme manager of CIPRB's Road Safety project, who presented the global road-crash situation, Bangladesh's crash statistics, the causes of crashes and the limits of road transport laws and policies.
Kazi Borhan Uddin emphasised properly applying the 'Safe System Approach', noting that making the different components of the road system safe in an integrated way can reduce the risk of crashes and deaths.
Taking part in the discussion, CIPRB executive adviser Professor Dr A K M Fazlur Rahman said: 'Road crashes cannot be reduced by law enforcement alone. Building responsible behaviour and safe travel habits among road users is also essential.'
Speakers also said the gaps in data collection and reporting must be closed to know the true number of crashes and the scale of losses. Without accurate data, the real picture stays hidden and prevention plans remain weak — a point that recurred through the discussion.
CIPRB's deputy executive director and director of its RTI Prevention and Research Unit, Dr Selim Mahmud Chowdhury, presented the organisation's road-safety activities and answered participants' questions in the open discussion.
The open discussion proposed first-aid training for ambulance drivers and a guideline for post-crash emergency care, on the grounds that care in the first moments after a crash is crucial to saving lives.
Participants also stressed involving representatives of road transport owners' and workers' organisations in safety activities, arguing that safety initiatives can hardly succeed while leaving out those who drive and run the roads every day.
The discussion raised the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all road-safety initiatives and the need for wide publicity of the Safe System Approach in the country. Installing safe child seats in vehicles for children's protection also received importance.
Dr Aminur Rahman said: 'CIPRB has long conducted research and various activities to prevent road crashes. These initiatives will continue in future.'
He expressed hope that the work would play an important role in realising the government's commitment to halve road-crash deaths by 2030. Ahead of National Road Safety Day on 22 October, the experts' message is clear: progress must come together in behaviour, data and emergency care, alongside the law.
