Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina says that the people are still not aware of road safety even after the recent protests by students.
“There had been a major accident (Airport Road crash) and the protests, but still there’s no awareness among the people. The chaotic crossing of roads continues,” she told the parliament during Wednesday’s question-and-answer session.
Urging everyone to abide by the traffic rules, she said that they are taking actions against reckless drivers. “But what about jaywalking? If this continues, then measures have to be taken or else, it will not stop.”
The prime said even parents along with their minor children cross the streets amid moving traffic. “Even the young people don’t want to use footbridge or underpass nearby, they just run to cross the road in front of speeding vehicles.”
In the wake of a road accident, people immediately tend to beat the driver instead of helping the victims, she said before adding: “As an instant reaction, the drivers speed away, in some cases running over the victims, to save their lives.”
According to the prime minister, if people stop beating drivers, the number of accidents will come down by 50 percent.
The government has taken various measures, including marking zebra-crossings, deploying traffic police and volunteers in front of schools and construction of underpasses and footbridges, to ensure road safety, said Hasina.