Road crashes won't stop until reckless driving does
Says Obaidul Quader
Communications Minister Obaidul Quader said in parliament yesterday that the number of road accidents will not decrease if unfit vehicles, "reckless driving, and unskilled drivers" are not stopped.
“How we can be able to control road accidents when drivers in our country consider themselves the 'king of roads' while they ride vehicles”, an apparently disappointed Quader said.
“Merely upgrading of highways to eight or twelve or sixteen lanes will not help to reduce road accidents until we stop plying of unfit vehicles and stop issuing of fake driving licenses”.
The minister made the observations as ruling Awami League MP Fazilatunnesa Bappi drew his attention on widening of the Dhaka-Sylhet highway to four lanes to avoid road accidents on the busy highway.
“According to my last two months' experience [as minister], I must say that upgrading of the highways into any number of lanes will not be able to check road accidents in the country”, said Quader, who has been given the charge of the communications ministry as a replacement of Syed Abul Hossain.
"Because, in our country drivers think them as king of roads and drive recklessly causing road accidents often”. Overloading and over speed are also some major factors, he said.
The minister told the House that his ministry has taken immediate steps to construct dividers and widen the 22 dangerous curves on the Dhaka-Aricha highway within the next three months to free those of risks.
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