National Road Safety Day is being observed today with renewed calls for stricter enforcement of traffic laws, safer roads and coordinated efforts to reduce road crashes and fatalities.

This year's theme is "Safe Roads, Prosperous Country - Bangladesh First," highlighting the importance of road safety as an integral part of the country's development.

The observance comes amid persistent concerns over road crashes, which claim thousands of lives and leave many others injured every year.

The government has drafted the Road Safety Act 2026, proposing mandatory free emergency treatment for road crash victims, legal immunity for good Samaritans assisting people in need, a demerit point system for traffic violations and double penalties for repeat offenders.

Prepared by the Road Transport and Highways Division (RTHD), the proposed law aims to establish a comprehensive framework for preventing road crashes, protecting vulnerable road users, improving vehicle and road infrastructure safety, and ensuring prompt medical care for crash victims.

Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam said on October 14 that the government was committed to enacting a comprehensive road safety law by 2027.

Bangladesh made the commitment at an international ministerial conference on road safety held in Marrakech, Morocco, in February 2025, pledging to enact a comprehensive law by 2027 in line with the global Safe System Approach.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), road crashes claim around 31,578 lives annually in Bangladesh. However, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) data show that 5,490 people were killed in road crashes in 2025, a figure nearly six times lower than the WHO estimate.