Who We Are

Road Safety Coalition Bangladesh (RSCB)

The Road Safety Coalition Bangladesh (RSCB) serves as a vital multi-stakeholder platform, harmoniously bringing together government agencies, civil society organisations, professional associations, and development partners who share a collective dedication to enhancing road safety throughout Bangladesh. The Coalition is committed to assisting the Government of Bangladesh in its efforts to prevent road accidents and promote safer roadways. It places a significant emphasis on addressing behavioural risk factors among road users through the Safe System approach.

In pursuit of the United Nations’ ambitious road safety targets, a collaborative initiative is underway that unites both governmental and non-governmental entities in Bangladesh, with the RSCB playing an instrumental role. Officially launched in 2022, the Coalition’s primary objective is to reduce road traffic accidents, injuries, and fatalities while advocating for evidence-based policies, effective law enforcement, and widespread public awareness.

The Coalition is dedicated to strengthening coordination among key institutions, including the Road Transport and Highways Division, BRTA, RHD, DTCA, and BRTC, as well as various NGOs and advocacy groups. It underscores the importance of developing safer road infrastructure, promoting responsible driving behaviour, and safeguarding vulnerable populations, such as pedestrians, cyclists, women, and children.

By fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders, the Coalition aims to cultivate a culture of safe mobility, align national strategies with global road safety frameworks, and contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3.6 and SDG 11.2) in Bangladesh.

Aims
The coalition aims to reduce road crashes, injuries, and fatalities in Bangladesh by promoting evidence-based policies, legal reforms, improved infrastructure, safer behaviour, and post-crash response systems.

Objectives

Encourage a comprehensive platform by actively engaging coalition members and stakeholders to effectively prevent road crashes. 

Identify and analyse barriers and challenges to road safety, fostering constructive dialogue with relevant government institutions to develop solutions. 

Enhance public awareness and encourage informed public opinion to reduce road crashes. 

Collaborate with and mobilise the media to advocate for pressing road safety issues. 

Support the government in formulating and enacting comprehensive road safety legislation based on the Safe System approach. 

Strengthen collaboration among coalition members to enhance overall effectiveness and impact. 

Member Organizations

  • BRAC 
  • Dhaka Ahsania Mission 
  • Bangladesh Red Crescent Society 
  • Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB) 
  • National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh & Bangladesh Orthopaedic Society 
  • Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) 
  • Steps Towards Development (Steps) 
  • Dhaka International University (DIU)

Major Contributions

Here are some of the key things the coalition has done so far

  • Speed limit guideline 2024
  • The coalition assisted in drafting the National Speed Limit Guideline 2024, which sets maximum speeds (e.g., 80 km/h on national roads, with lower speeds in urban areas) and enables local authorities to set lower speed limits in zones such as school areas.
  • The coalition has repeatedly urged the government to enact a dedicated road safety law based on a safe system approach
  • Evidence-based advocacy & policy engagement
  • Coalition members use road crash data, research, stakeholder consultations, and strategic planning (e.g. SMART objectives) to influence policy debates and legal frameworks
  • Public campaigns and awareness raising
  • The coalition issues press releases, holds press conferences, and engages with media to push for public attention on road safety, driver training, enforcement, helmet use, speed limits, etc
  • Linking with existing laws & regulatory frameworks

Global Context of Road Safety

Road crashes are one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. According to the Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023, published by the World Health Organisation (WHO), an estimated 1.19 million people die every year due to road crashes. This is the leading cause of death for children and young people aged 5–29 years, and the 12th leading cause of death across all age groups. Alarmingly, 92% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.

Road Safety Situation in Bangladesh

Road crashes are one of the major causes of death and injury in Bangladesh, placing a significant burden on both public health and the national economy. According to WHO reports, the estimated number of road crash fatalities in Bangladesh was 24,944 in 2018, rising to 31,578 in 2021. In terms of fatality rate, it increased from 15.3 deaths per 100,000 people in 2018 to 18.6 in 2021.

The World Bank estimates that the economic loss due to road crashes in Bangladesh amounts to approximately 5.1% of the country’s GDP. According to the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), from January to May 2024, there were 1,981 road crashes, resulting in 1,887 deaths and 2,281 injuries. Despite Bangladesh’s progress in reducing mortality in other areas such as health, disaster management, and communicable diseases, and despite significant infrastructural improvements in recent years, road crashes continue to claim thousands of lives and cause serious injuries. In 2022 alone, 80% of road crash victims were of working age, amplifying the economic losses.

Long-Standing Demand for a Road Safety Law

The demand for a comprehensive road safety law has been raised by citizens, including youth and students, for many years. In July 2018, following the deaths of two college students in a road crash, a powerful student movement broke out across the country, demanding strict laws for safer roads. This movement drew widespread support from people of all walks of life, who joined hands with the students. In response, the government passed the Road Transport Act 2018.

However, the Act had significant gaps: it was primarily vehicle- and transport-focused rather than addressing road safety comprehensively. As a result, road crashes, injuries, and fatalities have continued to be treated as “ordinary” occurrences.

Bangladesh’s Mandates on Road Safety

In line with the Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021–2030), Bangladesh has set a goal to halve road crash deaths and injuries by 2030, aligning with SDG Target 3.6.

At the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety (Marrakech, Morocco, 18–20 February 2025), the Government of Bangladesh announced:

  • By 2027, Bangladesh is expected to enact a separate National Road Safety Law, adopting the Safe System approach.
  • By 2026, a centralised database system will be developed to collect, store, and manage all crash-related data.
  • Guidelines will be prepared for helmet standards and enforcement.
  • Guidelines will be prepared for implementing speed limits.
  • Ongoing Initiatives in Road Safety
  • Ensuring road safety in Bangladesh is extremely challenging due to the high and rising number of crashes and casualties. However, several initiatives are underway:
  • Road Transport Act 2018 and Road Transport Rules 2022 (though both have gaps).
  • Issuance of the Motor Vehicle Speed Limit Guidelines 2024 by BRTA.

Helmet standardisation by BSTI

  • BRTA’s “No Helmet, No Fuel” policy for motorcycles.
  • Key Considerations for Ensuring Road Safety
  • Reaffirm continuation of road safety targets under the 2030 Agenda (SDG 3.6 and 11.2) even beyond 2030.
  • The government must enact a comprehensive, evidence-based National Road Safety Law under the Safe System approach, covering the five UN-recommended pillars:
  • Multimodal transport and proper land-use planning.
  • Safe road infrastructure.
  • Safe vehicles.
  • Safe road users.
  • Post-crash response.
  • Establish a centralised crash data system to provide accurate statistics for policy and prevention.
  • Ensure strict enforcement of speed limit guidelines.
  • Develop and enforce helmet standard guidelines.
  • Strengthen media engagement to raise awareness and monitor accountability.
  • Role of Media and Awareness

As road crashes in Bangladesh have reached alarming proportions, it is crucial for journalists to accurately report causes, contexts, and outcomes. Raising awareness among drivers, pedestrians, and all stakeholders is essential. The wide dissemination of policies and enforcement measures on road safety is now a pressing need, and the media play a vital role in this regard.