Both my parents being government officers I had the chance to ride on government car on numerous occasions. Unfortunately, I didn't find much difference between a roller coaster ride and most of rides in car driven by government drivers. They have the tendency to press accelerators as hard as possible without a proper reason and brake at the last moments with all their might -- when they are only just an inch away from the carin-front.

There are countless occasions when they bump into other cars and initiate a nasty quarrel with the driver or flee making a huge dent on the car-in-front. This kind of recklessness is common in most of the illiterate drivers of our country and unfortunately they are quite large in number. Their careless driving result in accidents. Iron

bumpers save cars from these reckless drivers. It acts as shock absorber and lessens the impact of a strong push from the car behind. If they are removed the number of car accidents will increase.

The doctor died because of careless, reckless driving, here iron bumpers can hardly be blamed. Nothing can stop brutal car accidents unless it is made sure that only drivers with complete control will be allowed to drive. Also the traffics police has to be more alert while on duty.

Imran Choudhury

Mirpur, Dhaka

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I fully agree with Ms Saquifa Islam's view. Taking off rail bumpers from cars won't stop improperly trained drivers from killing people nor would it make the traffic police take an attempt to catch the killer driver while fleeing away.

The death of the doctor was completely the fault of the driver and the traffic police who was too busy to notice the car dragging a man to death.

This incident wouldn't have taken place if the driver had proper knowledge of driving and had full control over the car. It is impossible for a good driver to drag a man for more than one kilometer without noticing. Moreover I can't help but wonder what the traffic polices on duty at the Russell square, Panthapath intersection were doing?

Taking off rail bumpers would only increase the number of fatal accident as the drivers in our country have a tendency reach the destination as fast as possible without following the traffic rules and hitting whatever comes on their way. Because they are certain that there is no one to take stern action against

them. These drivers somehow manage to get licenses being completely ignorant of the use of all the mirrors and not even having proper control over the accelerator and the brake.

It is easy for the honourable minister to order the removal of rail bumpers who always rides in government cars and in the middle of a motorcade. I don't think he would have been tempted to take such a decision if he had to drive his own car in the streets of Dhaka.

Zahidul Karim

Kallanpur, Dhaka

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Recent incidents have prompted the government to take iron bumpers off the cars but does that really address the root cause of the problem. Iron bumpers are there just to protect our cars from severe damage from other vehicles.

While it is true that the costs that will be concurred by the car owners will be far less than that of the life of an individual but does it really solve anything other than imposing greater costs on society. The point that I am trying to emphasize here is that the cause of road accidents are not iron bumpers or any such accessories. The major caused of road accidents are reckless driving, ignoring traffic rules, issuing driving licenses to unworthy drivers and the lack of law enforcement.

f these problems are not addressed, I really do not think that the recent measures taken by the government will ever meet its objectives of reducing road accidents.

Mohammad Arbaaz Nayeem Dhaka

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The communication minister has ordered removal of extra

bumpers from vehicles. I think this is not the correct solution. We do not cut our heads to get rid of headache. People use bumpers for some definite reasons. It protects cars from rikshaws and reckless drivers who cannot be caught by the police.

One valuable life has been taken away by a notorious driver. We mourn for the potential doctor. But can we assure that people will not face accidents on the roads after leaving those bumpers? I request the minister to form a committee to find proper and effective ways to reduce accidents. Mere removing the bumpers will not guarantee our lives on the streets. A driver or a car owner best knows how useful the iron bars are to save your vehicles on the congested streets of Dhaka.

Golam Quder

South Basaboo, Dhaka