Amend traffic law to curb road accident: Law Commission Chairman

Law Commission Chairman and former chief justice ABM Khairul Haque today stressed the need for bringing change in the traffic law referring to the prevailing mismanagement in traffic system and rising trend in the road accident.

“How the road accidents are increasing? People are losing their legs, hands and heads [in road accidents]. A civilised country cannot run in this manner. The existing traffic law needs to be changed and its enforcement too,"he said.

Justice Khairul Haque made the remark while talking to reporters after a meeting with Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain at his Supreme Court office this afternoon.

In the meeting, they discussed the traffic law, commercial court, commercial disputes and arbitration law.

Law Commission Member Justice ATM Fazle Kabir also was present at the meeting.

Justice Khairul Haque said, “We have discussed the traffic law. I feel the traffic law needs to be changed. And it will be changed if people feel. If they do not feel so, it will not be changed. People will continue to die. Let them die”.

“If anyone drives car without having a driving license, his or her face maximum punishment for four months simple imprisonment and a fine of Tk 400. If the penalty is so simple, nobody will feel interest to collect driving license,” he said.

Justice Khairul said proper enforcement of the law and change of attitude are needed along with the increasing of the punishment for the drivers responsible for the road accidents.

“Son of a transport owner may die tomorrow. Even, the son of a judge who releases a driver after fining Tk 400 may die in a road accident. Therefore, I feel that bringing change in the law is seriously needed,” he said.