EDITORIAL
The growing number of road accidents involving motorcycles in Bangladesh is no longer just a public safety concern—it has become a national crisis. According to recent statistics, at least 38 percent of road fatalities in 2024 involved motorcycle riders, a staggering 12 percent increase from the previous year. This sharp rise reflects a dangerous combination of unregulated vehicle growth, weak law enforcement, and lack of rider education.
Over the past decade, motorcycle registration in Bangladesh has surged nearly tenfold—from 700,000 in 2013 to over 7 million by early 2024. Unfortunately, this exponential growth has not been matched with institutional training, dedicated road infrastructure, or robust traffic management. The result is an overwhelming dominance of two-wheelers on roads, often driven by untrained and underage riders, many of whom operate without helmets or proper licenses.
Experts point out that ride-sharing platforms have added a new layer of risk, with inexperienced drivers entering the roads in large numbers. Coupled with unfit vehicles and a general disregard for traffic rules, the dangers have intensified, turning every commute into a gamble.
Globally, countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and India have also battled high motorcycle fatality rates. However, through stringent enforcement, electronic surveillance, and mandatory training systems, they have gradually reduced the death toll. In contrast, Bangladesh still lacks modernized traffic control, digital monitoring, and effective licensing enforcement.
A World Health Organization (WHO) safety advisor has warned that if no immediate policy interventions are introduced, Bangladesh may see motorcycle-related accidents double within the next five years. This should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers, civil society, and the general public.
So, what must be done?
Experts recommend a comprehensive set of actions: mandatory training for all riders, strict license verification, enforcement against underage and unfit drivers, digitalization of traffic policing, and widespread awareness campaigns through schools and media. Most importantly, the Road Safety Act must be swiftly and fully implemented.
Every day of delay costs lives—young, productive lives that could have contributed to the nation’s future. The rising tide of motorcycle fatalities is not an isolated issue; it is a reflection of our failing urban management and traffic governance. If we fail to act now, we risk normalizing a culture of daily road carnage.
The time to act was yesterday. The next best time is now.
