Abstract:
Being a riverine country, the road transportation system is vitally important to the economic
and social welfare of Bangladesh. Therefore, it must be so maintained and continually improved
with due consideration for safety, minimizing accident hazards and risks. However, terrible
losses of lives and injuries with consequent property damages resulting from road traffic
accidents have now emerged as serious issues in Bangladesh affecting the community
personally, socially and economically. The road safety situation is very severe by international
standard. An overview of the prevailing accident problem characteristics and some road safety
priorities that should be addressed with due urgency are briefly discussed in the paper. Some
recent advances in promoting road safety activities including holding of international
conference, national workshops and the observance of the UN first global road safety week are
also discussed. The way forward to activate and strengthen efforts towards greater safety is
highlighted as well.
