Dhaka, Nov 2 – Due to fast-moving vehicles, careless driving, and insufficient traffic control, roads have become dangerous areas. Bangladesh’s quick urban development, especially visible in the busy streets of Dhaka, has made road safety an increasing issue across the country.
While Automated Traffic Enforcement Systems (AES) offer enhanced surveillance, quicker penalties, and better road discipline, and many nations have already adopted these systems with successful outcomes, Bangladesh is only just starting to experiment with the technology.
As part of the trial initiative, an automated case system focused on managing speed limits has been implemented on the Dhaka Elevated Expressway, with video-based enforcement running discreetly since the first week of July this year.
While touring the highway, vehicles were typically following the speed limits and traffic regulations.
Drivers showed increased caution with the implementation of the new monitoring system.
Ripon, who owns a private vehicle, stated, “Driving over the speed limit can cause problems since the cameras capture everything. It’s an excellent move, as it will encourage drivers to refrain from unnecessary racing on the roads. Traveling on the highway feels more secure than before.”
DMP officials mentioned that the initiative involves setting up red-light cameras, speed sensors, automatic license plate recognition (ANPR) systems, and AI-based surveillance equipment at key junctions and high-traffic zones.
“Manual policing is no longer sufficient to handle Dhaka’s traffic. Automated enforcement will enable us to impose penalties for violations such as speeding, driving in the wrong lane, and running red lights instantly,” said a senior DMP traffic official, who wished to remain anonymous as the project is still being evaluated.
Around the world, AES has demonstrated remarkable outcomes.
New York City experienced a 60% decline in speeding around school areas, Singapore noted a 25% reduction in traffic jams following the implementation of electronic road pricing, and Dubai observed a 45% fall in road accidents after implementing smart cameras.
Dhaka residents face no relief from traffic congestion
In India, cities including Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad have implemented AI-powered detection cameras, with an e-challan system that sends immediate SMS penalties connected to vehicle registration details. During its initial year, Bengaluru’s pilot project for the AES reported a 30% reduction in traffic signal violations.
In a recent trial of the city’s automated enforcement system, AI-driven traffic cameras in Ho Chi Minh City documented more than 3,100 infractions from September 1 to October 3.
In Bangladesh, the project will be incorporated into the BRTA’s e-challan system to electronically generate digital penalties.
The Safe City Surveillance Center, primarily utilized for tracking criminal activities, is set to become the main control hub for the upcoming system.
Pilot projects are scheduled for high-risk zones such as Farmgate, Shahbagh, Bijoy Sarani, Moghbazar, and Airport Road, where traffic infractions and excessive speed often lead to traffic jams and collisions.
“It works well in theory, but I hope the system is open and tickets are given properly. Otherwise, it may cause dissatisfaction,” mentioned Mintu, a car owner based in Dhaka.
“All regulations apply to private car owners; the same should hold true for commercial vehicles. Eliminating rickshaws and auto-rickshaws should be a top priority for smoother traffic,” he added.
Bus driver Sumin Mia stated that numerous drivers lack knowledge of traffic regulations, emphasizing that AES alone is insufficient to address the city’s traffic issues without public education initiatives.
As per DMP records, more than 4,000 traffic accidents were documented in Dhaka during the previous year, with speeding and traffic signal breaches contributing to almost 40% of incidents.
The initiative encounters obstacles such as improving infrastructure, addressing issues related to data confidentiality, and increasing community understanding.
Authorities have not yet revealed an official start date or funding details, but officials mentioned that the initial phase of AES might begin by mid-2026.
Professor Dr Md Shamsul Hoque, the Director of the Accident Research Institute (ARI) at BUET, stated, “AES by itself will not lead to improvement unless the entire transportation system is properly structured. Thousands of vehicles are in operation every day without being registered. Developed nations maintain thorough databases, which simplifies enforcement. The automated system in Gulshan identifies significant violations on a daily basis, but enforcement cannot be immediate. The project needs to be reassessed if it does not perform effectively.”
Autorickshaws powered by batteries, along with slow-moving vehicles, are prohibited from Dhaka’s primary roads: DMP
Md Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (Passengers’ Welfare Association), stated, “Without transparency and responsibility within the organizations tasked with road safety, genuine progress cannot be achieved. Immediate changes in this vital area are essential; otherwise, individuals will keep facing difficulties during their daily commutes.”
The Road Safety Foundation has highlighted several ongoing risk factors contributing to increasing road accidents throughout the nation, urging immediate enhancements in infrastructure, traffic control, and public conduct.
The group stated that defective road design, inadequate upkeep, and the lack of critical safety features, such as signs, lane markings, barriers, and alert panels, continue to be significant factors in deadly accidents.
RSF reviewed approximately 37,000 road incidents by combining media reports with the foundation’s internal data, and they studied the nature and seriousness of accidents to categorize regions based on risk levels, with the results published on Saturday.
High-speed travel, combined with insufficient regulation and the careless coexistence of various types of vehicles on the same road, further increases the danger, it noted.
The group called on officials to implement thorough corrective actions at hazardous locations across the country. This involves reengineering dangerous road areas, maintaining them appropriately, and putting up essential signs and lane dividers to ensure safe traffic flow.
It also emphasized the importance of enhanced implementation of speed regulation using technology, together with specialized travel lanes or barriers to distinguish various types of vehicles.
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