Motorcycle cashes claim over 15,700 lives in six and a half years: RSF

More than 15,700 people were killed and over 14,000 injured in motorcycle crashes across Bangladesh in the six and a half years from 2020 through July 2026, according to an analysis by the Road Safety Foundation (RSF).

The report said at least 16,065 motorcycle-related crashes were recorded during the period, highlighting the growing road-safety risks associated with the country’s rapidly expanding motorcycle fleet.

Of the total crashes, 6,314 involved heavy vehicles, while 5,497 occurred after motorcyclists lost control. Another 3,548 were head-on collisions and 706 resulted from other causes.

In terms of responsibility, motorcycle riders were identified as the sole responsible party in 36.29 percent of the crashes. Goods-carrying vehicles accounted for the largest share of responsibility at 40.34 percent, followed by buses at 13.47 percent, three-wheelers at 4.55 percent, private cars and similar vehicles at 2.72 percent, bicycles and rickshaws at 0.76 percent and pedestrians at 1.84 percent.

Regional roads recorded the highest number of motorcycle crashes, with 6,689 incidents during the period. National highways accounted for 4,773 crashes, while 2,646 occurred on urban roads and 1,957 on rural roads.

The RSF said motorcycles account for around 71 percent of Bangladesh’s registered motor vehicles, with teenagers and young adults making up a significant portion of riders. Reckless speeding, aggressive marketing and a growing fascination with high-speed riding are contributing to the trend, it said.

People aged between 13 and 35 accounted for 58 percent of those killed or injured in motorcycle crashes, according to the report.

The organisation also linked the rising dependence on motorcycles to inadequate public transport and severe traffic congestion. Despite motorcycle crashes being far more frequent than crashes involving four-wheeled vehicles, many people increasingly rely on motorcycles as a faster and more accessible means of transport, it said.

The report identified failure to use quality helmets as one of the major contributors to motorcycle fatalities, noting that the use of proper helmets can significantly reduce the risk of death.

Among the key factors behind the crashes, the RSF identified reckless riding by young people, violations of traffic laws, inadequate enforcement, a culture of high-speed motorcycle rallies during political activities, insufficient road-safety awareness, poorly planned road infrastructure, inadequate safety technology and monitoring, and the shortage of affordable public transport.

The organisation recommended mandatory use of certified helmets, stricter enforcement of traffic laws, wider adoption of road-safety technology, stronger awareness campaigns, improved road infrastructure, more responsible motorcycle advertising and expansion of affordable public transport.

Death toll rises sharply over the years

The annual figures show a substantial increase in motorcycle crashes and fatalities since 2020.

In 2020, 1,463 people were killed in 1,381 crashes. The death toll rose to 2,214 in 2,078 crashes in 2021.

The deadliest year was 2022, when 3,091 people were killed in 2,297 motorcycle crashes.

In 2023, 2,487 people died in 2,532 crashes, followed by 2,609 deaths in 2,761 crashes in 2024.

The number of fatalities reached 2,671 in 3,029 crashes in 2025.

In the first seven months of 2026, 1,311 motorcycle crashes had already claimed 1,177 lives, according to the RSF analysis.