Association for Safe International Road Travel Road Safety Review: Know Before You Go Driving Culture ‰‰ Driving is on the left. • Drivers frequently speed, run red lights and ‰‰ Drivers are required to carry an International Driving Permit behave aggressively. (IDP) and proof of third-party insurance. • Unlicensed drivers on roadways are common. ‰‰ Pedestrians are at high risk, even where sidewalks and crossing • Drivers in urban areas often disregard lane signals are present. demarcations, and merge into traffic without ‰‰ Seat belt laws do not apply to all occupants. For safety, driver stopping. and all passengers should use seat belts or use children’s • Drivers of larger vehicles typically assume right- restraints appropriate to child’s age, weight and height. of-way. ‰‰ Traffic crashes, including head-on collisions, are common. Be • Many motor vehicles are in poor repair. alert to vehicles being driven against the flow of traffic in urban and rural areas. • Drivers randomly use car horns and flashing ‰‰ Despite zero tolerance for alcohol use, drivers may be under lights. the influence of alcohol. • A heavy mix of livestock, pedestrians and ‰‰ There are 15.3 road deaths per 100,000 people in Bangladesh, vehicular traffic is common on both urban and compared to 2.8 in Sweden and 3.1 in the UK. rural roads. Road Conditions • There are 21,269 km (13,215 miles) of roadways; 2,021 km (1,255 miles) are paved and 19,248 km (11,960 miles) are unpaved. • Urban traffic is chaotic and congested. Driving is not recommended. • The road network is poorly maintained. Large, deep potholes are common. • Night travel is dangerous. Many roads are unlit; cars may not have headlights, or be traveling with only high-beam lights activated. • Many roads lack shoulders and have steep drop-offs without adequate guardrails. • There are few road signs or speed limit postings. • Frequent public demonstrations include blockage of roadways. Many demonstrations become violent. • Road users are a mix of motorists, pedestrians, rickshaws and three-wheeled mini taxis called CNGs (compressed natural gas autorickshaws) • Road crashes are increasing. Factors include: »» Increasing number of vehicles including non- motorized vehicles. »» Reckless driving. »» Unfit vehicles. »» Poor follow-through of road improvements. »» Low enforcement of traffic regulations. »» Insufficient formal training for drivers of public transportation. »» Lack of consequences for dangerous driving. »» No proper driver education. »» Corruption within the licensing process. • Walking and cycling are common forms of transportation. • There are few cycling paths. Helmet use is not required. If traveling by bicycle, bring your own helmet. • Pedestrian infrastructure is poorly developed. • Pedestrians are at high risk. Causes include: »» Jaywalking and crossing against signals. »» Inattention to traffic. »» Stepping into roadways where market stalls are located. »» Focus on cellphones or other handheld devices. »» Crossing against lights and signals. Source: CIA Factbook ©ASIRT 2019 1 Association for Safe International Road Travel Road Safety Review: Bangladesh »» Motorist disregard for pedestrians. »» Reckless driving behaviors. »» Poor driver education. »» Chaotic road and traffic conditions. • There are many high altitude roads in the Himalayan Mountains. Mountain roads are typically unpaved without regular maintenance. Four-wheel drive vehicles are necessary to negotiate surfaces. • The following roads may present particular challenges to motorists: »» The - Highway (N2) is regarded as one of the world’s deadliest highways. It is also signed as part of the AH1 and AH2 in the . »» The Airport Road is a highway running south from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Dhaka. There are eight lanes. Traffic is typically obstructed; drivers do not adhere to lane markings and move between lanes, large trucks and other vehicles. Hazardous bumper-to-bumper conditions are nearly constant, regardless of time of day. »» Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue in central Dhaka is a main route shared by live animals, taxis, rickshaws, motorbikes, large numbers of pedestrians walking amongst vehicles, and buses with passengers riding on roofs and clinging to windows on the sides. • Audits are required for new road infrastructure. • There are inspections of existing roads. Regional and Seasonal Conditions • Road risks increase around holidays including Eid al-Fitr when many people are returning home from travel; driver fatigue is often a contributing factor to road crashes. • Bangladesh is subject to floods, cyclones and earthquakes. • There is a high risk of tornadoes. • Heavy flooding occurs during monsoon season from June to October, when up to 30 percent of the country may be underwater. Cyclones frequently occur pre- and post-monsoon season. • Roads, verges and bridges may wash out during floods. Potholes and other road hazards may become obscured by standing water. • Be familiar with emergency procedures. The Red Cross provides a website and free, downloadable emergency app: http://www.redcross.org/get-help/prepare-for- Maximum Speed Limits emergencies/types-of-emergencies Type of road Maximum speed 112 kph Public Transportation (70 mph) Urban areas • All forms of public transportation are generally regarded as or as signed unsafe. • Crash rates, including multiple fatal crashes, frequently 112 kph (70 mph) Rural roads involve buses, taxis, trains, rickshaws, motorcycles, or as signed rickshaws and CNGs. • Buses account for the majority of fatal crashes involving 112 kph (70 mph) motorized vehicles. Highways or as signed • Crashes involving motorcycles are common. • All public transportation options are generally Always adjust speed according to signage, hazards and overcrowded. weather conditions. • Rail cars, railroad infrastructure and taxi vehicles are typically older, used equipment lacking safety features.

Signs are generally pictorial and may not follow European Union conventions.

Traffic Left End of Rail crossing Rail crossing Bump in Mixed road One Narrow crosses one only posted speed with gate without gate road users way bridge way road limit

©ASIRT 2019 2 Association for Safe International Road Travel Road Safety Review: Bangladesh • Public protests may include Dhaka (Capital) rail ties being removed »»Driving is not recommended. from tracks to cause »»Traffic is chaotic, with a mix of broken-down vehicles blocking lanes and road users trains to derail. including motorized vehicles, rickshaws, CNGs, hand-held carts, pedestrians, cyclists • River ferries, sea ferries and livestock. and water buses »»Pedestrians typically walk among cars. (motorized boats used »»Bicyclists disregard traffic rules and signals, and frequently weave among traffic. as taxis) are often »»Even on main thoroughfares, cars and motorcycles may be parked on sidewalks. overcrowded. Capsizing »»Where sidewalks are present on roads, vendors and people living in temporary is common. shelters make it difficult for pedestrians to access. • Ferries and water »»Public transportation options includes buses, taxis, trains, rickshaws, motorcycles, buses often lack life- rickshaws and CNGs. saving equipment »»All forms of public transportation are generally regarded as unsafe. or communication »»Some CNGs and taxis are metered. Driver may not activate meter unless requested. equipment. If traveling »»Use of rickshaws after dark carries a high rate of robbery or assault. by boat, bring your own »»Official taxis are yellow, black or white; fraudulent operators are common. life preserver. »»Bus stops and routes are signed in Bengali. If using public transportation, carry a • Policies and investment are copy of your destination with you to show drivers, written in the local language. in place to develop urban »»Limited rail service is available to other destinations. Trains are old and in poor public transportation. repair; tracks and rails are often damaged and subject to risk of derailment. »»Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is located 8 km (5 miles) from city center. 16 Traffic Regulations »»Driving to and from the airport can be challenging. The road to the city is difficult to • Drivers must be a navigate. Despite the relatively short distance, travel time can take several hours. minimum of 18 years of »»Many hotels offer shuttle service. age; the maximum legal »»Buses connecting to city center are several minute’s walk from the airport. Routes age to drive is 65. are posted in Bengali. • Vehicles are requiared »»Taxis queuing outside of the arrivals hall may not be legitimate, licensed taxis. to be right-hand drive, »»CNGs offer service to the city. CNG service presents significant dangers from including any rental motorized vehicles sharing roadways. vehicle driven across a Chittagong border. »»Driving is not recommended. Traffic is heavy and chaotic. • There are few traffic lights, »»Road conditions are poor. Many surfaces contain deep potholes. road lights or signals. »»Traffic signals, where present, may not function. • Warning signs for existing »»Travel to the Chittagong Hill Tracts (including the districts of Rangamati, Khagrachari road hazards are typically and Bandarban) is not advised due to a high incidence of violence including violent not posted. assaults of motorists. • Overtaking on approach to »»Law requires that a minimum of ten days notice be given to the Bangladesh a pedestrian crossing is authorities prior to travel to the Chittagong Hill Tracts. prohibited. »»Public transportation includes buses, taxis, trains, rickshaws, motorcycles, rickshaws • Helmet use is compulsory and CNGs. for motorcycle drivers »»Public transportation is generally regarded as unsafe. and passengers. »»City buses and multiple private bus companies operate routes throughout the city. • Police may carry out Schedules are confusing and change frequently. random breath tests for »»Bus stops and routes are signed in Bengali. alcohol. »»Train service connects to Dhaka, Sylhet and other destinations. »»Walking and cycling are common forms of transportation. Pedestrians and cyclists typically ignore traffic rules and walk among vehicular traffic. »»Shah Amanat International Airport is located 20 km (13 miles) from city center. »»Buses and taxis are located outside of the arrivals hall. »»Limited rental car service is available.

©ASIRT 2019 3 Association for Safe International Road Travel Road Safety Review: Bangladesh

Emergency Information • Responders to emergency numbers in remote areas may not speak English. »» Police, ambulance and fire: 999 • Pre-program emergency numbers into your phone before departure. • Responses to emergency situations may be slow or non-existent. • If involved in a crash: »» Call police. »» At crash sites, observers typically behave unpredictably and may assign blame prior to the arrival of officials. It is unsafe to remain at the scene of a crash. Drivers and passengers may be in grave danger of attack by bystanders or other motorists. If vehicle is operational, seek out shelter at the closest police station.

ASIRT is a non-profit humanitarian organization established in memory of Aron Sobel, age 25, who was killed along with 22 other passengers in a Pamukkale Bus Company crash on the roads of Turkey.

Disclaimer: ASIRT provides this information as a service to travelers. This Road Safety Review is intended to provide general guidelines for travelers to countries around the world. Any electronic links provided in this Report are for illustrative purposes and ASIRT is not responsible for the content provided within these electronic links and/or videos.

Copyright: Purchasers of this Road Safety Review are entitled to use it for purposes of research, education, information on health, safety and general road and traffic conditions or other non-commercial uses. Neither the whole nor any part of this ASIRT Road Safety Review may be copied in any form or provided to any other party without the prior written consent of the copyright owner. Flag images are © Central Intelligence Agency World Factbook.

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