Passenger Welfare Association: 613 road accidents in May claim 622 lives
- Highest number of accidents in Dhaka
Photo: Agamir Somoy
In May, 613 road accidents occurred across the country, resulting in 622 deaths and 1,652 injuries, according to a statement released on Saturday by the Passenger Welfare Association of Bangladesh.
The association said that 221 motorcycle accidents took place in May, killing 231 people and injuring 219. This accounts for 36.05 percent of total accidents and 37.13 percent of total fatalities.
Among all divisions, Dhaka recorded the highest number of accidents in May, with 180 incidents leading to 185 deaths and 558 injuries. In contrast, Mymensingh division saw the fewest accidents, with 27 incidents causing 38 deaths and 67 injuries.
A total of 975 vehicles were identified as involved in the May accidents. Among them, 28.69 percent were motorcycles, 23.10 percent were trucks, pickups, and lorries, 14.45 percent were buses, 12.97 percent were battery-powered rickshaws and easy bikes, 7.48 percent were three-wheelers including Nasimon-Karimon, 6.75 percent were cars, jeeps, and microbuses, and 6.54 percent were CNG auto-rickshaws.
Head-on collisions accounted for the highest proportion of accidents at 42.08 percent, while 32.30 percent of accidents involved vehicles running over or hitting people. Additionally, 18.92 percent of accidents occurred when vehicles lost control and fell into ditches.
In terms of road types, 44.69 percent of accidents took place on national highways, 30.66 percent on regional highways, and 18.10 percent on feeder roads. The remaining accidents occurred in metropolitan areas and at railway crossings.
The Passenger Welfare Association identified several major causes of road accidents, including unrestricted movement of motorcycles and slow-moving vehicles on highways, faulty road infrastructure, lack of road signs and dividers, unskilled drivers and unfit vehicles, traffic law violations and reckless speeding, as well as problems caused by broken roads and rain.
To reduce accidents, the association called for a modern and technology-dependent transport system, improved training for drivers, and ensuring highway safety. It also urged an end to the operation of unfit vehicles and the elimination of extortion in the transport sector.