Speed Management and Safe Crossing on Dhaka-Sylhet Highway (N2) in Bangladesh

5.7 <strong>Safe</strong> crosser
<strong>Safe</strong> crossers are one of the effective components of the project. They were helping
vulnerable road users during crossing the road. For better road capacity, they were also
responsible for managing traffic, close to the crossing.
After completion of intervention on road, comprehensive observation directed appointing
<strong>Safe</strong> Crossers for better traffic management. They briefed the road users about safe
behaviour <strong>and</strong> proper utilization of the provided intervention. Twelve members of Ansar
VDP was deployed for this purpose. Four persons in each location were providing duty in
shift basis. Two persons were in each shift where shift divided by day <strong>and</strong> evening. Day shift
started from 6 am to 2 pm <strong>and</strong> evening shift was up to 10 pm from 2 pm.
Major activities of safe crossers are to instruct bus drivers for using the bay, not to park
vehicles on road <strong>and</strong> close to crossing, maintaining discipline on the intersection <strong>and</strong> help
vulnerable road users to cross the road etc.
5.8 Challenges
Some challenges were being faced by project personnel to manage this cost effective awareness
<strong>and</strong> education activities in rural settings. The challenges are as follows:
Regarding village road safety committee, at initial stage, there was a plan for conducting
committee meeting twice a month but it was not possible. Less attending tendency by the
members, members' business with their own job <strong>and</strong> country's political situation are the main
obstacles in this regard.
Regarding sticker attaching, sometimes bus companies were refused to stick the messages
for fear of damaging vehicle colour.
Regarding Leaflet distribution, literacy rate <strong>and</strong> level of education of the general people
varies. Sometimes uneducated villagers were unwilling to learn <strong>and</strong> project staff managed
them by describing the messages which was time consuming.
Regarding school education program, routine examination in the schools, teachers’ assignment
with regular school activities, special holidays <strong>and</strong> country's unrest political situation were
the main challenges for training <strong>and</strong> video show.
In CNG orientation, Drivers were busy on driving CNG then attending the program. Hence,
making them convenient with their preferable time <strong>and</strong> location were challenging.
Regarding <strong>Safe</strong> Crosser, the major difficulties faced on that time were: less response on instructions
of supervisor, unnecessary quarrel with drivers <strong>and</strong> negligence on duty at less supervision,
unwillingness on wearing reflective safety vest; risky road crossing attitudes from newly recruited
persons etc. were the main challenges. Moreover, local people were creating pressures to recruit
themselves as safe crosser were also the mentionable challenge from the community.
5.9 Concluding comments
In addition to the engineering activities, the program consisted of education activities <strong>and</strong> activities
to involve the local community. It has been the combination of all three activities that has caused the
success of the program.
Report on <strong>Speed</strong> <strong>Management</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Safe</strong> <strong>Crossing</strong> on Dhaka-Sylhet Highway (N2) in Bangladesh 34