September road crashes claim 423 lives, 33% were motorcyclists
Photo: Collected
A total of 442 road crashes occurred across the country in September, leaving 423 people dead and 674 others injured. Among the deceased, 139 were motorcycle riders or passengers, accounting for about 33 percent of the total deaths. In addition, 106 pedestrians were killed in road crashes. Among the deceased were 61 children and 58 students.
The Road Safety Foundation published its September Road crash report on Sunday, which included these findings.
The report was prepared based on information from nine national dailies, 17 national and regional online news portals, various electronic media outlets and the organization’s own data.
According to the report, 154 motorcycle crashes occurred in September, accounting for 34.84 percent of all road crashes. A total of 139 people were killed in these crashes. Meanwhile, 106 pedestrians were killed, accounting for 25.05 percent of total deaths. A total of 53 drivers and assistants of vehicles were also killed.
Alongside road crashes, 11 waterway accidents occurred last month, leaving 16 people dead, seven injured and four missing. In addition, 23 railway accidents left 19 people dead and six injured.
More crashes occurred on regional roads
According to an analysis by the Road Safety Foundation, regional roads recorded the highest number of crashes in September. A total of 178 crashes occurred on these roads, accounting for 40.27 percent of all crashes. There were 145 crashes on national highways, 63 on city roads and 56 on rural roads.
An analysis of the types of crashes showed that the highest number, 168, occurred after vehicles lost control. There were also 109 incidents involving pedestrians being run over or hit, 98 head on collisions and 61 incidents in which vehicles hit the vehicles in front of them. The remaining six crashes occurred for other reasons.
Among the vehicles involved in crashes, motorcycles accounted for 23.44 percent. Trucks, covered vans, pickup trucks, tractors, trolleys, lorries and other goods carrying vehicles accounted for 23.29 percent. Three wheelers accounted for 18.66 percent and passenger buses accounted for 16.35 percent.
Dhaka Division records highest number of deaths
Division wise statistics showed that Dhaka Division recorded the highest number of crashes and deaths in September. A total of 132 crashes occurred in the division, leaving 134 people dead. Sylhet Division recorded the lowest number of crashes, with 20 crashes leaving 21 people dead.
Gazipur recorded the highest number of deaths among individual districts, with 38 people killed. In the capital Dhaka, 52 road crashes left 21 people dead and 47 injured.
An analysis of the occupations of the deceased showed that 58 students from various educational institutions were killed. In addition, 25 local level businesspeople, 24 leaders and activists of political parties, 21 sales representatives of goods, 18 NGO workers, 14-day laborers, 13 teachers and 11 bank and insurance officials and employees were killed.
Among the deceased were two police members, one member of the armed forces, three journalists, two doctors and four engineers.
Reckless speed blamed for crashes
According to observations by the Road Safety Foundation, more than 14 people were killed in road crashes on average every day in September. The organization believes excessive vehicle speed and loss of control were behind most of the crashes. It has emphasized technology-based monitoring to control speed and motivational training for drivers.
According to the organization, the number of pedestrian deaths is increasing due to reckless vehicle speeds and pedestrians' lack of awareness. To address the situation, it has recommended increasing awareness campaigns focused on practical safety through the mass media and social media.
The organization identified defective vehicles and roads, reckless speed, drivers' lack of skills and illness, the absence of fixed salaries and working hours, the operation of slow-moving vehicles on highways, reckless motorcycle riding by young people, lack of knowledge of and compliance with traffic laws, weak traffic management, capacity shortages at the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and extortion in the public transport sector as major causes of road crashes.
The Road Safety Foundation has recommended restructuring the National Road Safety Council, carrying out structural reforms at the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) and Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), and appointing experts in relevant fields to the top positions of these institutions to ensure road safety.
The organization has also recommended making the use of modern safety technology in vehicles mandatory, removing expired vehicles from roads, developing skilled drivers, setting drivers' salaries and working hours, constructing service roads for slow moving vehicles on highways and appointing gatekeepers at all railway crossings.
The Road Safety Foundation said timely policies, technological and infrastructure development and increased awareness among road users are needed to build safer roads. However, political will from the government is essential to implement these initiatives.
