Road accidents in Bangladesh were claiming the lives of young people at an alarming rate—an ‘unacceptable reality’ that had to be urgently addressed, said Ahmed Jamsheed Mohamed, the World Health Organization representative to Bangladesh, on Sunday.
In an op-ed titled ‘Every step counts: ensuring safety for pedestrians and cyclists’, published during the 8th UN Global Road Safety Week on May 12–18, he highlighted the devastating social and economic toll of road crashes, including not only direct medical costs but also indirect consequences – loss of productivity, emotional trauma, and psychological impacts on families and communities.
‘The WHO urges all stakeholders to unite and intensify efforts to uphold the fundamental right to safe mobility,’ he said.
According to the Fifth Global Status Report on Road Safety, an estimated 31,578 people died due to road crashes in Bangladesh in 2021—six times higher than the 5,084 fatalities reported by police. That means road accidents are now the leading cause of death among children and young people aged 5 to 29 in the country.
Jamsheed called for a complete rethink of how streets are designed and used, placing safety at the centre. ‘Making roads safer for walking and cycling must be a priority to protect all road users, especially the most vulnerable.’
He noted that Bangladesh’s dense population, increasing vehicle numbers, poor road design, weak enforcement of traffic laws, and limited post-crash medical resources had all contributed to the country’s worsening road safety situation.
Despite these challenges, the country has taken several legislative and policy steps, including the Road Transport Act 2018, the National Road Transport Policy 2004, the National Integrated Multimodal Transport Policy 2013, and the Strategic Transport Plan with its Detailed Area Plan for 2022–2035.
With WHO’s support, the directorate general of health services under the ministry of health and family welfare has developed a post-crash response model. This initiative is critical, as two-thirds of road crash fatalities occur en route to the hospital and three-fourths of victims receive no pre-hospital care.
‘These initiatives hold promise in reducing crashes and preventing premature deaths and disabilities,’ Jamsheed said.
By 2030, approximately 70 per cent of the global population is expected to live in urban areas. ‘Walking and cycling should become the most normal—and therefore the safest—modes of transport,’ he added.
Jamsheed stressed that countries had to continue rethinking urban mobility to promote safe and sustainable transportation options. ‘A shift towards safer walking and cycling not only protects individuals but also supports broader Sustainable Development Goals, including climate action, sustainable cities, and reduced inequalities.’
‘Achieving global road safety targets will require strong political will, safer road design, reduced speed limits in shared zones, improved governance, investment in mobility infrastructure, enhanced law enforcement, and robust trauma care systems,’ the WHO representative continued.
‘Road safety is a fundamental human right that must not be compromised as we reimagine the future of mobility.’
Globally, road traffic deaths continue to rise. In 2021, an estimated 1.19 million people died in traffic-related incidents, with 92 per cent of these fatalities occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
The UN General Assembly has endorsed the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030, aiming to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by at least 50 per cent by 2030.
Jamsheed concluded that building, safer and more accessible cities for pedestrians and cyclists, could significantly benefit both public health and the environment, encouraging physical activity and improving air quality.
The 8th UN Global Road Safety Week focused on ensuring safety for those who walk and cycle under the theme ‘#MakeWalkingSafe #MakeCyclingSafe.’
