Police Received Training on ‘Speed as a Risk Factor’
15 October 2025, Dhaka: Road traffic deaths are attributed due to different risk factors. Among them, expired or unfit vehicles and unskilled drivers, the simultaneous movement of both motorized and non-motorized vehicles on the same roads, sudden changes of lanes, indiscriminate boarding and dropping off of passengers, lack of adequate lighting at night, violation of traffic laws and signals, unsafe road design, and excessive or reckless speeding have been identified as major causes for road crashes. In particular, excessive or reckless speed increases the risk of road crashes, premature deaths, and permanent disabilities. Therefore, driving within the prescribed speed limits for different types of roads and vehicles can significantly reduce the risk of road crashes. In other words, following speed limits save lives. Additionally, ensuring safe vehicles, safe road designs, and compliance with traffic laws and signals can make roads safer.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner SM Sazzat Ali made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural session of a day-long training titled `Speed Enforcement’, held this morning at a hotel in Dhaka. Special guests at the event included DMP Additional Police Commissioner (Admin) Md. Sarwar (BPM-Sheba), Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) Dr. Md. Zillur Rahman, and Superintendent Engineer of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Khandaker Mahbub Alam. The event was presided over by BIGRS Coordinator and Additional Secretary (Retd.) Md. Abdul Wadud. Senior Road Policing Advisors from GRSP, Michael Phyland and Paul Simcox, were also present.
The training was organized by the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) under the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) program to enhance the capacity of police officers in implementing the speed limit guidelines in Dhaka and ensuring road safety. A total of 30 police officers—including Traffic Sergeants, Sub-Inspectors, Inspectors, and Assistant/Deputy Police Commissioners—from various units of DMP participated in the training.
GRSP Senior Road Policing Advisors Michael Phyland and Paul Simcox conducted the sessions, discussing topics such as the role of law enforcement in preventing road crashes, the role of speed in crash occurrences, the importance of speed management, speed control technologies and strategies, and safe management of roadside checkpoints. They also presented audiovisual materials, graphs, and international research data illustrating the risks associated with high speeds.
It is worth mentioning that, to reduce fatalities and injuries caused by road crashes, the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has set maximum speed limits for different types of vehicles on various roads and highways across the country. Within city corporation areas, the maximum speed for vehicles on expressways, national, and regional highways is 40 km/h, while on most other roads it is 30 km/h. The maximum speed limit for motorcycles within cities has been set at 30 km/h.
The day-long training was coordinated by BIGRS-Dhaka Initiative Coordinator Md. Abdul Wadud and Enforcement Coordinator Golam Hossain. Among others Aminul Islam Sujon, Technical Advisor of Vital Strategies; Farzana Islam Toma, Consultant of the World Resources Institute (WRI); Rezaur Rahman, Transport Coordinator of BIGRS; and Dr. Tanvir Ibne Ali, Surveillance Coordinator of BIGRS were present at the event.
In the closing session in the afternoon, Dr. Md. Zillur Rahman, Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) attended as chief guest and handed over the certificates among the participants. Among others, Sufian Ahmed, Joint Police Commissioner (Traffic-Dhaka North) was also present. #