Poor implementation of a law is allowing drivers to talk over mobile phones while driving, putting lives of many at risk.
The rules say that an offender has to pay a nominal fine of Tk 500 or serve one month in jail or both for talking on the phone and driving.
The government has no arrangement to enforce the law in rural areas, leaving majority of the population vulnerable to accident which has a mobile phone at the root.
Monday's tragedy at Mirsarai of Chittagong was caused by a driver who was talking over the phone while driving his truck packed with students. At least 42 students and two others died.
Emran, a survivor and a student of class-X of Abu Torab Bohumukhi High School, said the accident happened when the trucker lost focus on the road as he was talking on his phone.
The government in a gazette notification (SRO-293-2007) served on December 19, 2007, said, "No person shall wear earphones or use mobile phones while driving any motor vehicle."
Most of the countries in the world have banned the use of mobile phones for motorists while driving. In western countries it is illegal to use mobile phones but the driver can use handsfree devices (Bluetooth devices or speakerphones) for talking on the phone. Bus drivers, however, are not allowed to use handsfree devices.
A superintendent of police preferring anonymity said though motor vehicle ordinance has a provision for fining or imprisoning a driver for using mobile phones while driving, the police department has no arrangement to enforce it.
He said at upazila and district headquarters, vehicular movement is controlled by traffic personnel but on other roads there is nobody to control traffic due to lack of manpower.
Police headquarters source said even though trucks are not meant for carrying passengers but nonetheless they are responsible for almost half the deaths in road crashes. The source said between January and May a total of 1,061 people were killed on roads across the country.
Among other vehicles, 332 trucks and 456 buses were behind the deaths.
BRTA sources said the number of total registered vehicles is 15 lakh including 81,561 trucks, 38,404 buses and 35,908 mini buses.
However, there are only 10 lakh drivers with licences which indicate that five lakh vehicles are driven by helpers or people without licences.
Lawmaker Tarana Halim said there is no law to describe who will be the helper of vehicles and what quality they should have to be a helper.
"Anyone looking for a job could become a helper and eventually that unskilled person is entrusted with driving which puts our lives at stake," she said.
Source : The Daily Star
