With speeding vehicles, reckless driving and weak traffic enforcement turning roads into perilous stretches, Bangladesh’s rapid urbanisation — most evident in the chaotic streets of Dhaka — has made road safety a growing national concern.

Although Automated Traffic Enforcement Systems (AES) promises stricter monitoring, faster penalties, and more disciplined roads and many countries have already embraced such systems with proven results Bangladesh is only beginning to test the technology.

As part of the pilot project, an automated case system targeting speed control has been introduced on the Dhaka Elevated Expressway with video-based enforcement quietly operational since the first week of July this year.

During a visit to the expressway, vehicles were found generally adhering to the speed limits and traffic rules.

Drivers appeared more cautious under the new monitoring system.

Ripon, a private car owner, said, “Driving violating the speed limit can bring hassle as the cameras are recording everything. It is a very good initiative, as it will help drivers avoid unnecessary competition on the roads. Driving on the expressway feels safer than before.”

Officials at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said the plan includes installing red-light cameras, speed detectors, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems, and AI-powered monitoring tools at major intersections and in busy areas.

“Manual policing alone cannot manage Dhaka’s traffic anymore. Automated enforcement will help us penalise violations like speeding, wrong-lane driving, and red-light jumping in real time,” said a senior DMP traffic official requesting anonymity as the project is still under review.

Globally, AES has shown impressive results.

New York City recorded a 60% reduction in speeding near school zones, Singapore reported a 25% decrease in congestion after introducing electronic road pricing, and Dubai saw a 45% drop in road fatalities after adopting smart cameras.

In India, cities such as Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad use AI-enabled detection cameras, while an e-challan system issues instant SMS fines linked to vehicle registration. Bengaluru’s pilot AES saw traffic signal violations drop by 30% in its first year.

More recently, AI-powered traffic cameras in Ho Chi Minh City recorded over 3,100 violations between 1 September and 3 October, in an early test of the city’s automated enforcement system.

In Bangladesh, the initiative will be integrated with the BRTA’s e-challan system to automatically issue digital fines.

The Safe City Surveillance Hub, currently used mostly for crime monitoring, is expected to serve as the central command centre for the new system.

Pilot installations are planned for high-risk areas including Farmgate, Shahbagh, Bijoy Sarani, Moghbazar, and Airport Road, where signal violations and speeding frequently contribute to congestion and accidents.

“It’s good in theory, but I hope the system is transparent and tickets are issued correctly. Otherwise, it will create frustration,” said Mintu, a Dhaka-based car owner.

“All laws are implemented for private car owners; it should be the same for commercial vehicles. Removing rickshaws and auto-rickshaws should be a priority for hassle-free driving,” he added.

Bus driver Sumin Mia noted that many drivers are unaware of traffic rules adding that AES alone cannot solve the city’s traffic chaos without public awareness campaigns.

According to DMP data, over 4,000 road crashes were reported in Dhaka last year, with speeding and signal violations accounting for nearly 40% of cases.

The project faces challenges, including infrastructure upgrades, data privacy concerns, and public awareness.

Authorities have not yet announced a formal launch date or budget but officials indicated the first phase of AES could roll out by mid-2026.

Professor Dr Md Shamsul Hoque, Director of the Accident Research Institute (ARI) at BUET, said, “AES alone will not bring improvement unless the entire transport system is organised. Thousands of vehicles operate daily without registration. Developed countries have comprehensive databases, which makes enforcement easier. The automated system in Gulshan detects major violations daily but enforcement cannot be instant. The project should be reviewed if it does not function effectively.”

Md Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, secretary general of Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (Passengers’ Welfare Association), said, “Without transparency and accountability in institutions responsible for road safety, no real improvement is possible. Urgent reforms in this crucial sector are necessary; otherwise, people will continue to suffer in daily travel.”

The Road Safety Foundation has identified a number of persistent risk factors behind rising road accidents across the country, calling for urgent improvements in infrastructure, traffic management and community behaviour.

The organisation said faulty road design, poor maintenance and the absence of essential safety measures, including signs, lane markings, dividers and warning boards, remain major contributors to fatal crashes.

RSF analysed around 37,000 road accidents using both media reports and the foundation’s own data and examined accident types and severity to classify areas according to risk and the findings were released on Saturday.

High-speed traffic without proper enforcement and reckless movement of mixed vehicles on the same route also heighten the risk, it added.

The organisation urged authorities to undertake comprehensive corrective measures at dangerous spots nationwide. These include redesigning risky road sections, ensuring proper maintenance, and installing necessary signage and lane separation facilities to guide traffic safely.

It also stressed the need for stricter enforcement of speed control through technology, along with dedicated service lanes or dividers to separate different categories of vehicles.