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Change Your Life! |
Community Road Safety Initiatives meeting today |
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News
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September 21, 2000
Dhaka, Sept 20 (UNB) – Despite one of the lowest motorisation rates of 3 per cent in 1000 people, 70 fatal traffic mishaps per 10,000 vehicles were reported in 1998 causing a loss of Tk 1,250 crore. Pedestrians account for over 60 percent of all mishaps in Dhaka and the number of accidents is about 40 times higher than that of the industrialised countries, according to a statistics provided by Bangladesh Road Transport Authority. The statistics were released ahead of a national consultative meeting on Community Road Safety Initiatives (CRSI). The objective of CRSI is to reduce human and economic loss in road accidents. The meeting will be held at LGED Bhaban today at 10 am. Communication Minister Anwar Hossain Manju will attend the meeting as chief guest while State Minister for Communications Mohammad Anisul Haq Chowdhury and World Bank Operation Advisor Nancy Zhao as special guests. The statistics also showed that male victims account for 85 percent in the mishaps. CRSI was tested in three pilot communities at Ashekpur in Tangail, Palbari in Jessore and Shanir Akhra in Dhaka. Under the programme, training was given to the selected community group, or committee members who identified their road safety problems and prepared action plan to reduce road accident. The implementation of community action plan commenced with launching of road safety campaigns. The campaign program included road march, education in local schools, publicity through stickers and posters and community collection of accident information. Posters and stickers were developed and used for the awareness of pedestrians, drivers and school students. A TV spot on use of road has been also prepared for telecast. The meeting further informed that the road safety committees formed at the selected communities are implementing their action plan assisted by CRSI consultants. The meeting stressed on the urgent need for education, awareness, training and campaign at the community level, community traffic policing and drivers training. These three project concepts have been developed, in consultation with the pilot communities, concerned government agencies, civil society and other actors. The proposed projects will be presented, and discussed in the technical sessions for further improvement leading towards preparation and subsequent implementation. |