Ambulances meant to save lives are now turning deadly
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
The siren sounds. An ambulance rushes forward with one purpose, to save a life. But in many cases, the same ambulance is now becoming the cause of death. Patients, their relatives and drivers are losing their lives in one accident after another. Questions are being raised about the safety of this emergency service vehicle.
The purpose of an ambulance is to transport patients quickly to hospitals during emergencies and save lives. However, a series of recent accidents has turned this life saving vehicle into a deadly trap in many cases. Head on collisions, rear end crashes and even explosions have occurred.
One of the most widely discussed accidents took place in May this year in Nagarkanda of Faridpur. Five people were killed on the spot when an ambulance collided head on with a passenger bus on the Dhaka Barishal Highway. All of those killed were passengers of the ambulance. Images of the mangled ambulance spread widely on social media after the crash.
Earlier in January, two buses rammed into an ambulance from behind on the Dhaka Aricha Highway in Savar, causing its gas cylinder to explode and a fire to break out. Four people were killed and at least 15 others were injured in the incident. All of those killed were inside the ambulance.
More recently, three people were killed in a head on collision between a Pabna Express bus and an ambulance in Sathia of Pabna. The ambulance driver and a child care nanny died at the scene. Several others were injured. On July 5, three people were seriously injured after an ambulance carrying the body of a newborn lost control and crashed into a pickup truck in Sitakunda of Chattogram.
Experts say ensuring the safe movement of ambulances requires dedicated emergency lanes, specialized driver training, regular vehicle fitness inspections and developing a culture where other drivers give priority to emergency vehicles. Otherwise, ambulances, the symbol of saving lives, will continue to become deadly vehicles.
According to those concerned, excessive speed, dangerous overtaking, a lack of discipline on highways, fatigued drivers and the pressure to get patients to hospitals quickly are increasing the risk of ambulance accidents. Although investigations are promised after every accident, no long term preventive measures are yet visible.
Abtab Hossain came to hire an ambulance to take his mother home after she had recently recovered at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital. In his view, “People generally believe ambulances are safe and are driven by skilled drivers. But passengers have no way of knowing about the drivers’ licenses, road permits or the legal status of the vehicles.”
“News reports about ambulance accidents appear frequently. For this reason, the government needs much stricter monitoring,” Abtab added.
However, ambulance driver Bashar did not want to take responsibility on his own shoulders. He said, “We try to get patients to the hospital as quickly as possible. If the patient’s condition is critical, we have to drive fast, but we do not intentionally drive recklessly.”
Another driver, Habib Ullah, echoed the same view. He claimed, “Many times we have to travel quickly because of pressure from the patient’s relatives. When there is traffic congestion, we have to use alternative routes or drive on the wrong side of the road. No one causes an accident intentionally.”
Golam Mostafa, President of the Bangladesh Ambulance Owners Welfare Association, dismissed allegations of negligence and carelessness by drivers. He claimed that ambulance accidents occur regularly. According to him, they prioritize experience when recruiting drivers so they are skilled in transporting patients and handling emergency medical equipment.
Speaking about the quality of ambulances, he said that previously private vehicles were converted into ambulances, but now, in most cases, fully built ambulances are being imported from abroad. He added that tax exemptions have made it comparatively easier to purchase them.
Regarding drug use among drivers, Golam Mostafa alleged, “Many drivers are drug addicted. If regular dope tests are made mandatory, accidents can be reduced.” He also alleged that some drivers obtain licenses using fake medical reports. In addition, he claimed that many drivers are involved with hospital based broker networks.
Subir Kumar Saha, Deputy Director of the Road Safety Division of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, said the agency takes action after receiving specific complaints or reports from the local administration. He could not immediately confirm whether BRTA had received reports on the recent accidents. However, he said action would be taken if complaints were filed.
Regarding dope tests, he said licenses are issued only after verifying dope test reports. If any driver is found to have used drugs, the driver’s license will be canceled.
When asked whether a new policy is being formulated for ambulances, he advised contacting the Engineering Division of BRTA. However, despite repeated attempts, no comments could be obtained from the officials concerned.
