A massive road safety awareness campaign was held in Dhaka on Tuesday aiming to increase public awareness on the issue and prevent road accidents and reduce the number of accidental casualties.

Nationally famed defensive driving trainers, safety experts, rights activists, and volunteers participated in the campaign conducted by Swift Solution, a private organisation working on road safety for over a decade, in front of the National Press Club.

Swift Solution Chief Adviser Mir Abdul Motaleb said at the campaign that non-compliance of traffic laws and lack of awareness about road safety are two major factors behind road fatalities.

“Had our drivers complied with traffic laws and people been aware of road safety, the number of road accidents and fatalities would have been reduced to a great extent,” he said.

Swift Solution Chief Executive Officer Kamruzzaman Palash said around 8 million working hours are lost every day in Dhaka alone due to traffic chaos, causing a loss of Tk 1.4 billion each day.

Other speakers at the programme highlighted the importance of law enforcement, increasing awareness, and active public participation to ensure road safety.

Swift Solutions Adviser Shiabur Rahman Shihab, Safety Consultant Md. Jiaul Ahasan, Director Sharif Hossain Hridoy and other officials and volunteers were among the participants.

Leaflets and car stickers were distributed during the campaign to increase public awareness on road safety. In addition, road safety messages were disseminated through banners, festoons and placards.