Two Wheels, One Reality

Motorcyclists in Bangladesh have an image problem and not entirely an undeserved one. To many road users, bikers are the chaotic element: squeezing through impossible gaps, riding the wrong way, jumping signals, and trusting reflexes more than rules. But beneath the stereotypes lies a harder truth. Motorcycles have become a necessity long before safety systems caught up.

Cost is the first barrier. A proper, certified helmet can cost more than a month's fuel for many riders. Jackets, gloves, boots? For most, those are "lifestyle choices", not essentials. As a result, safety gear remains the domain of a small group who see riding as a passion, not just transport. Everyone else rides exposed, vulnerable, and hoping today won't be the unlucky day.

The biggest causes of motorcycle accidents in Bangladesh are depressingly consistent: speeding on poor road surfaces, sudden lane changes without indicators, buses and trucks turning without warning, and riders misjudging gaps in dense traffic. Add broken roads, poor lighting, and minimal lane discipline, and you get a system where survival often depends on instinct rather than infrastructure.

Then there's the aftermath. Unlike many countries, an accident here isn't just a medical emergency, it can instantly become a social one. Crowds gather, tempers flare, blame is assigned within seconds, often without facts. Riders, especially younger ones, can find themselves verbally or physically attacked even when they're not at fault. A rider involved in a minor collision near Farmgate recalled, "The accident wasn't serious. What scared me was how fast people decided it was my fault."

This is where something as simple as a helmet-mounted camera or dash cam becomes more than a gadget, it becomes protection. Video evidence can defuse mob anger, establish fault, and offer legal clarity when emotions run high. This is the biggest step toward self-preservation.

Ultimately, motorcycle safety in Bangladesh won't improve through enforcement alone. It needs affordability of certified gear, better rider education, realistic urban road design, and a cultural shift that treats bikers as road users, not intruders.

Until then, riding smart, gearing up where possible, and keeping proof on record may be the most practical safety system riders have.