Behavioral Aspects of Drivers as Contributing to Traffic Jam: The Case of Dhaka City’s Bus Drivers

Abstract

Traffic congestion is one of Dhaka city's most challenging issues for uninterrupted transportation. Yet many government initiatives have appeared to fail to reduce traffic congestion. As the literature indicates, there are many factors contributing to traffic jams in Dhaka City. Several studies found structural causes behind traffic jams. However, behaviors of bus drivers are always denied in policymaking and implementation and that’s why the study was conducted to explore the responsible behavioral aspects of bus drivers contributing to traffic jams. To conduct this study, field-based primary data was collected from the respondents (drivers, pedestrians, hawkers, and traffic police) using interview questionnaires, practical observation, and focus group discussion. Furthermore, journal articles, newspaper reports, books, various reports, previous research papers, and different websites are utilized as the sources of secondary data. The major findings have been identified as drivers violating rules by themselves or by external pressures such as passenger demand, lack of stoppage, more income tendency, and weakness of traffic management, etc. Randomly picking and dropping passengers, randomly breaking and stopping, competition, illegal parking, violating signals, and crossing the line were found as major behavioral aspects of bus drivers that contribute to traffic congestion in city areas. Other reasons found are nonchalant traffic police, poor traffic management, lack of traffic technology, illegal footpath occupying, and untimed development projects on the road. Respondents believe and hope that if the government takes proper policies and steps such as education, training, seminars, proper licensing, social awareness building campaigns, incentives, and strict law enforcement for drivers alongside all stakeholders, then it may be possible to mitigate traffic congestion. Finally, we hope for the best use of this study in future policymaking and in conducting further research.