2b Full Paper Road Safety Research Nee
ROAD SAFETY RESEARCH NEEDS AND THE ROLE OF
ACCIDENT RESEARCH CENTRE (ARC)
Dr. Md. Mazharul Hoque1, Zobair Ibn Awal2 , Sabreena Anowar2, Shahnewaz Hasanat-ERabbi3, S. M. Sohel Mahmud3,
1
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering &
Director, Accident Research Centre (ARC); 2 Junior Research Fellow, 3 Research Assistant,
Accident Research Centre (ARC)
Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology (BUET)
Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
Phone: +88 02 861 0081, FAX: +88 02 861 0081, E-mail: dirarc@arc.buet.ac.bd
Abstract: The context and the value of road safety research in mitigating the man-made epidemic of road traffic accidents and injuries are discussed in this paper. Accident Research Centre (ARC) was established at Bangladesh University of
Engineering and Technology (BUET) under the top priority programs of the Government of Bangladesh to carry out scientific studies and research regarding the causes of accidents on roads, railways and waterways and commensurate remedial measures. Activities, achievements and future outlook of ARC are also discussed.
1.
INTRODUCTION
Road traffic accidents are a ‘global tragedy’ with ever-rising trend and represent a major cause of premature deaths and disabilities worldwide. Road trauma has now been recognized as one of the significant diseases of industrial societies and is an increasing public health and economic issue in developing countries. Accidents are particularly prevalent in low and middle income countries- around 88 percent of the world’s deaths occur in developing countries (Mackay, 2003). More than half of the world’s traffic fatalities occur in the Asian-Pacific region although only one in five motorized vehicles are registered here. It is estimated that by 2020 about twothirds of the world’s traffic fatalities might be in the Asian-Pacific region. The economic costs of road crashes, which range from 1 percent to 3 percent of GDP in Asia, have a disproportionate impact on lower income groups, thus contributing to the
ACCIDENT RESEARCH CENTRE (ARC)
Dr. Md. Mazharul Hoque1, Zobair Ibn Awal2 , Sabreena Anowar2, Shahnewaz Hasanat-ERabbi3, S. M. Sohel Mahmud3,
1
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering &
Director, Accident Research Centre (ARC); 2 Junior Research Fellow, 3 Research Assistant,
Accident Research Centre (ARC)
Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology (BUET)
Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
Phone: +88 02 861 0081, FAX: +88 02 861 0081, E-mail: dirarc@arc.buet.ac.bd
Abstract: The context and the value of road safety research in mitigating the man-made epidemic of road traffic accidents and injuries are discussed in this paper. Accident Research Centre (ARC) was established at Bangladesh University of
Engineering and Technology (BUET) under the top priority programs of the Government of Bangladesh to carry out scientific studies and research regarding the causes of accidents on roads, railways and waterways and commensurate remedial measures. Activities, achievements and future outlook of ARC are also discussed.
1.
INTRODUCTION
Road traffic accidents are a ‘global tragedy’ with ever-rising trend and represent a major cause of premature deaths and disabilities worldwide. Road trauma has now been recognized as one of the significant diseases of industrial societies and is an increasing public health and economic issue in developing countries. Accidents are particularly prevalent in low and middle income countries- around 88 percent of the world’s deaths occur in developing countries (Mackay, 2003). More than half of the world’s traffic fatalities occur in the Asian-Pacific region although only one in five motorized vehicles are registered here. It is estimated that by 2020 about twothirds of the world’s traffic fatalities might be in the Asian-Pacific region. The economic costs of road crashes, which range from 1 percent to 3 percent of GDP in Asia, have a disproportionate impact on lower income groups, thus contributing to the
References: Andreassend, D. C. (1982). A Technique to Resolve Road Accident Problems. Ph.D. Thesis (Unpublished), Dept Asian Development Bank (ADB) (1996). Road Safety Guidelines for the Asian and Pacific Region. Elsenar P. (2007). Concluding Presentation in the 14th Road Safety Conference on Four Continents (RS4C), Bangkok, Thailand, 14-16 December 2007. Hoque, M. M. (2006). Road Safety in Bangladesh: The Contemporary Issues and Priorities. Hoque, M. M. (1987). Accident in road classes and their long term changes in Melbourne. Ph.D. Thesis (Unpublished), Dept Mackay, M. (2003), UN Technical Briefing, “Global Road Safety Crisis”, May 29, 2003 World Health Organization (WHO) (2005) 04, May 2005 World Health Organization (WHO) (2004)