Youth & Road Safety

The majority of young people who die in car accidents are under 25. Every day, approximately 1,000 young people are killed or injured on the world’s highways. For people between the ages of 15 and 25, this global health problem is the leading cause of death among those in this age group.

Young people are frequently the cause of the problem, whether by driving too fast, breaking traffic laws, or taking more risks on the road. Faced with such challenges, young people worldwide have banded together to address global road safety issues and have pledged to be a part of the solution. Unfortunately, road traffic accidents are the leading cause of death among young people worldwide. To improve road safety, youth must be a part of the solution.

Regularly, young people are killed in traffic accidents. Every day, approximately 1,000 teenagers are killed on the world’s highways. This is a global health issue that the World Health Organization has identified as the leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 25. Young people are frequently the source of the problem, whether they are driving too fast, violating traffic laws, or taking unnecessary risks on the road. Faced with such challenges, young people worldwide have banded together to address global road safety concerns and have pledged to help find a solution.

‘Publication and Review of Annual Report on Road Accidents 2021,’ according to the RSF report, was unveiled at a press conference in the capital on Saturday.

Meanwhile, according to Nirapad Sarak Chai (NSC-We Demand Safe Roads), 4,289 persons were murdered in 3,793 traffic accidents in 2021.

Experts believe the statistics reported by the two groups range substantially since there is no legal institution in the nation that keeps track of fatalities and wounded. In this respect, the principal sources of information are newspapers, television, and web portals.

According to the RSF data, motorbikes were involved in 38.68 percent of all incidents in 2021. At least 2,214 individuals were killed in these collisions, and 1,309 were wounded. These collisions involved a total of 2,078 motorbikes.

According to the research, in 2020, however, 1,381 people were killed and 1,463 people were injured in motorbike accidents.

In addition, 927 women and 734 children perished in traffic accidents in 2021, compared to 871 women and 649 children in 2020. According to the data, there were 5,371 road accidents in 2021, up to 4,735 in 2020.

According to the study, in 2021, 4,289 people were murdered in 3,793 road accidents, 254 people were killed in 270 rail accidents, and 90 people were killed in canal accidents.

According to the data, traffic accidents climbed by 21% in 2021 over 2020.

The strategies and tactics adopted to avoid road users being killed or badly wounded are road traffic safety. Pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, vehicle passengers, horseback riders, and on-road public transportation passengers are typical road users (mainly buses and trams).

One of the world’s most serious public health and injury-prevention issues is road traffic collisions. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that most of the victims were in good health before the accidents.

Youth have a critical role to play in society. But, to do so, we must first understand why adolescents are so unique. They’re youthful, energetic, and educated, with logic as their guiding principle. Now it’s time for them to play a part in society.

Reproduce: Reproduction in this context does not imply an increase in population, but rather that they fill the void left by the elder. In a firm, a son assumes the role of father.

Protection: Youth must safeguard their culture and traditions while also improving them and embracing societal developments. For example, youth are the only ones who join political movements to bring about significant changes in a country. They become a part of it. They join the military services to protect people’s freedom and so on. 

Growth: A country’s development in all aspects, such as social, political, and economic, is largely dependent on its youth. They can perform better and contribute to society’s progress if they have more energy.

Reckless driving, a lack of pedestrian awareness, a lack of monitoring by law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies, long periods of driving without a break, employing unskilled drivers, and a lack of traffic responsibility for passengers are all factors that contribute to frequent traffic accidents. Goal 3.6 of the Sustainable Development Goals is to cut the number of worldwide deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents in half by 2020.

Bangladesh’s road safety record is now in a precarious state. According to the number of accidents recorded by Bangladeshi police in 2014, there were 2027 accidents that year, resulting in 2,067 deaths. The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) recognizes and uses these statistics. However, it should be noted from the BRTA website that they are almost comprehensive, as some accidents in the nation are not reported to the police. As a result, the actual number of road deaths is far greater.

Because human life is involved, a driver’s work should not be considered a nepotistic career opportunity.

Bangladesh’s government just accepted the draft of a new road safety law. Although the new legislation does not include the death sentence (a maximum of 5 years in prison for causing death by reckless driving), it does feature harsher penalties for violations of certain traffic laws than the previous law. If law enforcement agencies and government officials do not enforce the laws, and passengers do not gain understanding and respect for the law, making laws will not have the desired results.

In the socio-economic environment of our town, one accident kills not only an individual but also a family and their dreams.

The terrifying account of Rezaul Karim, the guy who was reportedly thrown from a minibus by a servant and then smashed to death by the minibus driver, sends shivers down the spine! Rajib Hossain, a third-year Government Titumir College student, lost his hand when it became trapped between two racing buses attempting to pass each other in the capital. On July 29, 2018, two college students were killed by irresponsible driving in the capital.

Meanwhile, a government politician with links to the transport unions sparked more controversy when he said, “A road crash has killed 33 lives in Maharashtra, India; but do they talk about it the way we do?” The people who work in the transportation industry, from drivers to assistants to transport owners and decision-makers, lack compassion.

Making money is fine, but not at the expense of other people’s lives. On a separate topic, Bulgaria’s ministries of public works, transport, and internal affairs recently resigned due to widespread criticism of the government following a fatal tourist bus disaster.

In Bangladesh, however, power and rank are more important than human life. Therefore, I believe that altering one’s thinking is critical from a vantage point of view. Therefore, courses in the educational system should make individuals more human rather than money-producing machines.

Around 40% of Bangladesh’s population is under the age of 25, and youngsters and students make up the bulk of traffic accident casualties. As a result, youngsters play an important part in this situation.

Our youngsters need to be taught about road safety. The ideal of a safe road for everybody is in the hands of the youth, who should practice road safety and spread the word to others. They may do so by putting on street shows, raising awareness, and, most importantly, acting responsibly. They should also emphasize the dangers of disobeying traffic regulations to deter noncompliance. Instead of preaching, they should inquire why the offenders are breaking the law.

During the September 2015 UN General Assembly, the world’s global development agenda was established for the next 15 years. Known as the Global Goals, they include two new road safety objectives for the first time, which are as follows:

Target 3.6: By 2020, half the number of people killed or injured in road traffic accidents worldwide.

Target 11.2 – By 2030, provide all people with access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transportation systems, focusing on improving road safety, particularly by expanding public transportation and paying special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, such as women, children, people with disabilities, and the elderly.

It is important to practice road safety in everyday life to avoid errors and accidents. Because road accidents may be lethal, it is critical to avoid them. To get to your destination safely, you should practice defensive driving. The following are some suggestions for practising road safety:

1) Follow the posted speed limit. Do not drive hastily.

2) Obey all traffic laws and do not run any red lights.

3) Don’t drive if you’ve had too much to drink.

4) Do not talk on your phone while driving.

5) If applicable, use a helmet or a seat belt.

6) To avoid accidents, choose high-quality tyres such as BPPC tyres.

7) Everyone should only drive when they have reached the legal driving age.

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