In Bangladesh, road transportation is the major mode of transport in our country and it is clear that it will continue for decades to come. Roads, highways and streets are fundamental to our transportation system and over 70 percent of passenger travel and much of our goods movement is over the highways. There is no doubt that road transportation is vitally important to our economic and social welfare and must be so maintained and continually improved with due consideration of safety, minimizing accident hazards and risks.

Road accidents and injuries are now a growing and serious problem in Bangladesh and the safety situation is very severe by international standard. Each year as reported to police, more than 3300 individuals- including from among our peers, our family, our friends and our coworkers- lose their lives in road traffic accidents in Bangladesh and many more sustain disabling injuries. In economic terms, road accidents in Bangladesh is costing community in the order of Tk. 5000 crore (approximately US $ 850 million) which is nearly 2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

These figures clearly demonstrate that road safety is a serious national issue as it affects each and every one of us, whether drivers, travelers or consumers and thus demands urgent attention to improve road safety in Bangladesh. There remains much scope for improving road safety and for that known and proven interventions need be implemented with due urgency, ranging from Road Safety education, engineering and enforcement.

Our `Make Roads Safer’ Campaign, launched in Bangladesh will focus on such key road safety themes as driver safety, road safety and pedestrian safety, training of road safety professionals, and support programs to improve road safety in our country.