Dhaka:A new provision in the draft Road Safety Act 2026 is set to provide legal protection to individuals who assist road accident victims, safeguarding them from criminal or civil liabilities solely for their rescue efforts.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the proposed legislation aims to encourage public participation in rescue operations by offering legal protection to 'Good Samaritans'. This protection ensures that rescuers will not face legal consequences even if the injured person dies, as long as their actions were in good faith.
The draft law emphasizes the importance of the 'golden hour'—the first hour after an accident—by proposing a rapid rescue system and legal safeguards to encourage more people to assist accident victims without fear of legal repercussions. Current regulations under the Road Transport Act 2018 mandate that drivers report accidents and take injured persons to hospitals, with penalties for non-compliance. However, the new draft seeks to broaden protections for ordinary citizens who offer humanitarian aid.
Dr. Mohammad Ziaul Haque, Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division, highlighted the necessity of an effective protection mechanism to alleviate public fear of legal complications. The draft also calls for community volunteer and ambulance teams to reach accident sites promptly and proposes making hospitals responsible for initial emergency treatment.
The proposed legislation also includes measures for accident prevention, such as improving road design and infrastructure safety, with penalties for failures in these areas. Additional provisions aim to enhance pedestrian safety and incorporate safety measures for motorcyclists and cyclists.
Experts emphasize that road safety requires an integrated approach, addressing all factors from road conditions to the technical state of vehicles. The draft law supports this by advocating for the 'Safe System Approach' and aims to reduce road accident fatalities and injuries by 50 percent by 2030. Effective implementation of the Good Samaritan protection is seen as crucial to achieving this goal, although clear definitions of legal protection and liability are necessary to prevent misuse.