Speed Management and Safe Crossing on Dhaka-Sylhet Highway (N2) in Bangladesh
Speed-Management-and-Safe-Crossing-An-Experience-in-Dhaka-Sylhet-Highway-N2-in-Bangladesh
Speed-Management-and-Safe-Crossing-An-Experience-in-Dhaka-Sylhet-Highway-N2-in-Bangladesh
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Foreword<br />
Road traffic crashes are a major problem <strong>in</strong> low <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> middle-<strong>in</strong>come countries (LMICs). Over<br />
90 percent of the world’s road traffic deaths occur <strong>in</strong> LMICs. Low-<strong>in</strong>come countries (LICs)<br />
bear a disproporti<strong>on</strong>al risk; with <strong>on</strong>ly 1% of the world’s registered motorized vehicles,<br />
LICs have 12% of the world’s road traffic deaths. Around 60% of road traffic deaths <strong>in</strong><br />
LICs are vulnerable road users. Pedestrians <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> cyclists are especially at risk of an <strong>in</strong>jury<br />
as a result of excessive vehicle speeds (WHO, 2013).<br />
<strong>Bangladesh</strong> has over 100 road traffic deaths per 10,000 motor vehicles, <strong>on</strong>e of the<br />
highest rates <strong>in</strong> the world. Many crashes occur at ‘black spots’, c<strong>on</strong>centrated areas with a<br />
high road crash burden <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> about 70% of crash fatalities occur <strong>in</strong> rural areas.<br />
This pilot dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong> project <str<strong>on</strong>g>Speed</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Management</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Safe</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cross<strong>in</strong>g</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>N2</strong> <strong>Highway</strong> <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>Bangladesh</strong>’ has been implemented at three locati<strong>on</strong>s (Nilkuthi, Namapara <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> Kunderpara)<br />
of <strong>Dhaka</strong>-<strong>Sylhet</strong> (<strong>N2</strong>) highway of <strong>Bangladesh</strong>. This road has many black spots <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> a high<br />
number of pedestrian fatalities. The pilot is <strong>in</strong>novative <strong>in</strong> both the selecti<strong>on</strong> of implemented<br />
<strong>in</strong>terventi<strong>on</strong>s (a comb<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> of effective <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> relatively low-cost measures) <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>in</strong> the<br />
approach to m<strong>on</strong>itor pre- <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> post-<strong>in</strong>terventi<strong>on</strong> data.<br />
Our <strong>in</strong>terventi<strong>on</strong>s, which c<strong>on</strong>sisted of small scale <strong>in</strong>frastructural measures for traffic<br />
calm<strong>in</strong>g, educati<strong>on</strong> to vulnerable road users <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> an active community <strong>in</strong>volvement have<br />
resulted <strong>in</strong> a reducti<strong>on</strong> of more than 60% <strong>in</strong> road crashes, traffic fatalities <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> traffic<br />
<strong>in</strong>juries at the selected spots. Moreover, estimated social ec<strong>on</strong>omic return at 6000 % for<br />
this project which is tremendous.<br />
This program shows the enormous impact that can be made by <strong>in</strong>vest<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> road safety.<br />
Achiev<strong>in</strong>g the target set by <strong>Bangladesh</strong> government to make the number of road fatalities<br />
half by 2020 is possible if the <strong>Bangladesh</strong> government acts now. The project has got an<br />
extensive coverage <strong>in</strong> lead<strong>in</strong>g both electr<strong>on</strong>ic <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> pr<strong>in</strong>t media. Moreover, its be<strong>in</strong>g presented<br />
<strong>in</strong> the Netherl<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g>s, Brazil, Ch<strong>in</strong>a, where it’s be<strong>in</strong>g praised as a perfect dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong> of<br />
evidence based <strong>in</strong>terventi<strong>on</strong> project.<br />
We would like to acknowledge the M<strong>in</strong>istry of Road Transport <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bridges, Roads <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<strong>Highway</strong>s Department, Nars<strong>in</strong>gdi Roads Divisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> other local stakeholders for the<br />
extensive support dur<strong>in</strong>g the implementati<strong>on</strong> of the project. We are very much look<strong>in</strong>g<br />
forward to work with <strong>Bangladesh</strong> government <strong>on</strong> a roll out of this successful program to<br />
other high-risk corridors with<strong>in</strong> the road network <strong>in</strong> <strong>Bangladesh</strong>.<br />
Prof. Dr. AKM Fazlur Rahman<br />
Executive Director, CIPRB<br />
Dr. Martijn Thierry<br />
Director, <str<strong>on</strong>g>Safe</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cross<strong>in</strong>g</str<strong>on</strong>g>s<br />
Report <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Speed</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Management</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Safe</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Cross<strong>in</strong>g</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Dhaka</strong>-<strong>Sylhet</strong> <strong>Highway</strong> (<strong>N2</strong>) <strong>in</strong> <strong>Bangladesh</strong> 4