Road accidents kill 481 in August, 664 injured: Road Safety Foundation

A total of 481 people were killed and 664 injured in 513 road accidents across the country in August. Among the deceased were 61 women and 58 children. Compared to July, the average daily death toll in road accidents increased by 15.65 percent in August.

The information was released in a road accident report signed by Road Safety Foundation Executive Director Saidur Rahman on Monday, September 7.

The report said the average daily death toll from road accidents in July was 13.41, which rose to 15.51 in August. The Road Safety Foundation prepared the report based on information from nine national dailies, 17 national and regional online news portals, various electronic media and its own sources.

In August, 176 people were killed in 183 motorcycle accidents, accounting for 36.59 percent of total fatalities. Additionally, 102 pedestrians were killed, accounting for 21.20 percent of total deaths. Drivers and their assistants accounted for 67 deaths, or 13.92 percent of total fatalities.

Vehicle-wise, 176 motorcyclists and their passengers, 37 bus passengers, 51 occupants of trucks, covered vans, pickups, tractors, lorries and drum trucks, and 11 occupants of microbuses, private cars and jeeps were killed. Additionally, 78 three-wheeler passengers, 21 passengers of locally-made vehicles, and five riders of rickshaws and bicycles were killed.

According to the report, the highest number of accidents—217, or 42.30 percent of total accidents—occurred on regional roads. A total of 163 accidents occurred on national highways, 62 on rural roads and 71 on city roads.

Analysis of accident types shows that 195 accidents, or 38 percent of total, were caused by loss of vehicle control. Other causes included 126 head-on collisions, 106 cases of pedestrians being hit or knocked down, 78 rear-end collisions and eight other types of accidents.

A total of 749 vehicles were involved in August's accidents, including 194 motorcycles, 112 three-wheelers, 108 trucks and 103 buses.

Division-wise, Dhaka division recorded the highest number of accidents with 172 incidents and 144 deaths, while Barishal division recorded the lowest with 15 accidents and 14 deaths. At the district level, Bogura recorded the highest number of deaths at 37. In the capital Dhaka, 23 people were killed and 54 injured in 48 road accidents in August.

Additionally, six people were killed and nine injured in seven waterway accidents in August. During the same period, 27 people were killed and 23 injured in 34 railway track accidents.

The Road Safety Foundation said most road accidents occur due to loss of vehicle control caused by excessive speed. Other contributing factors include reckless driving, defective vehicles and roads, driver incompetence, physical and mental illness, undefined working hours, slow-moving vehicles on highways, reckless motorcycle riding by youngsters and poor traffic management.

The organisation has recommended restructuring the Road Safety Council, reforming the management and structure of BRTA, BRTC and DTCA, mandating the use of modern safety technologies in motor vehicles, and withdrawing expired vehicles from roads.

Other recommendations include introducing company-based modern bus services through route rationalisation in the capital, creating skilled drivers while ensuring their salaries, working hours and healthcare, constructing service roads for slow-moving vehicles on highways, and appointing gatekeepers at all railway crossings.

The Road Safety Foundation said a safe road system can be built through time-fitting policies, development of technology and infrastructure, and education and awareness programmes for road users. In this regard, the government's political will is essential.