• Md. Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan

Road traffic accidents and injuries have now emerged as a serious man-made epidemic in Bangladesh. Each and every year many accidents are occurring and many people are losing their lives and many are being injured for road accidents. However the present study has conducted to identify the range of factors, including economic imperatives, regulatory and governance failures, and behavioural deficits that render roads severely unsafe in Bangladesh and to know the socioeconomic factors of the stakeholders whose engagement is central to any effective redressal of unsafe roads. The study was conducted in Dhaka District in Bangladesh. There are some bus terminals, truck stands and rent a car spots. The survey was conducted at Mohakhali bus terminal, Gabtoli bus terminal, Sayedabad bus terminal, Amin Bazar truck stand and Tejgaon truck stand. Five rent a car spots were selected such as Lake circus, Maghbazar, Mirpur 1, Pallabi and Jatrabari. The study was survey type. Purposive sampling method was used for the study. From each bus terminal 20 bus drivers were selected. Among them, 10 bus drivers and 10 mini bus drivers. So total 60 bus and mini bus drivers were selected. From each truck stand 20 truck drivers were selected. So, total 40 truck drivers were selected. From each rent a car spot 20 drivers were selected. Total respondents of the study were 200. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources. Primary data were collected from the respondents of the study area. Secondary data were collected from books, research report, journal annual report of World Health Organization, internet etc. Collected data were analyzed by using computer software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. From the result it was found that the overwhelming majority of the surveyed drivers are in the age bracket 41-50 years which was maximum. The drivers had education. From the result it was found that 47% drivers’ monthly income was 15001-20000 taka which was the maximum, From the result it was found that 86% drivers replied that they got their payment by monthly trip-based payment which was the maximum. Most of the drivers did not have their own house, they lived in rented house or mess, it’s a tension for them. Economic conditions of the drivers are not so well, 50% drivers replied that they are staying break-even point but it is vulnerable. Very few drivers had valid license, 92% drivers replied that they had to pay bribe to get the license, 52% drivers replied that they had to make repeated visits, 39% drivers replied that they had to take help of middlemen and 5% drivers replied that the middlemen gave fake license. The overwhelming majority 81% have acquired their driving skills through a process of informal learning. An additional 16% obtained their driving skills through a combination of both processes. For this reason they did not know the accurate ways of driving which cause accidents. The drivers of did not learn driving from qualified trainers, 78% drivers replied that they had learned driving from their Ustad which was the maximum and 3% drivers replied that they had learned driving from their friends or relatives which was minimum. On the other hand it is matter of concern that only 5% drivers had replied that they had learned driving from Government Institutions. Most of the drivers worked more than 8 hours in a day, 49% drivers replied that they worked 9-12 hours in a day and 19% drivers replied that they work 13-16 hours in a day which was a reason of accident. Many drivers use mobile during driving, 44% drivers replied that they use mobiles during driving time which is very alarming for the security of drivers, vehicles and common people. Many drivers did not conduct regular servicing of their vehicles regularly and it a matter of great sorrow that 48% drivers replied that they don’t conduct regular servicing of their vehicles regularly. From the result it was found that 58% drivers replied that after accident no fatalities with minor damage to vehicle. It indicates that there are many accidents occurred but the number of fatality is less. On the other hand 14% drivers replied that fatality occurred and damage of vehicle also occurred. From the result it was found that 41% drivers replied that after accident they faced no penalty which was the maximum but 2% drivers replied that after accident their license impounded which was minimum. The accidents occur due to the high speed and lack of seriousness of the drivers. Overtaking competitions are also responsible for accidents. In some cases accidents occur due to the lack of seriousness of pedestrian. Drivers, drivers’ assistants, pedestrians, traffics should be more cautious. Road Safety system should be digitalized. CCTV camera & required number of Control station should be provided all over the Country as required. Arrangement should be made to identify the wreck less Driver /vehicle and penalty should be ensured through the software development. An efficient Traffic Management System should be made by Auto Signaling system. The wreck less driver & the unfit vehicles users should be identified and there should have suing system by software development. More Administrative approach should be taken Frequent Mobile Court operation & evection program should be conducted in regular basis. Bazaar/Hat should be removed permanently from the Highway.

Road accident, drivers, training, pedestrian, license, economic conditions

"A Study on Relationship between Road Accident and Socioeconomic Conditions of Drivers", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 4, page no.617-628, April-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1904D84.pdf

"A Study on Relationship between Road Accident and Socioeconomic Conditions of Drivers", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 4, page no. pp617-628, April-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1904D84.pdf