Road crash deaths rose by 65 from July, Road Safety Foundation says

Online Desk:

Road crash deaths rose across the country in August, with 481 people killed, about 65 more than July, according to the Road Safety Foundation.

A total of 513 road crashes were recorded during the month, leaving 664 people injured. Among the dead, 61 were women and 58 children.

The Road Safety Foundation confirmed this information in its monthly report.

The foundation prepared the report based on information published in nine national dailies, 17 national and regional online news portals, electronic media reports and its own sources.

According to the foundation’s report, motorcyclists accounted for the largest share of fatalities, with 176 people killed in 183 crashes. This accounted for 36.59 percent of all deaths on roads, while motorcycle accidents made up 35.67 percent of all crashes.

Another 102 pedestrians were killed, accounting for 21.20 percent of the fatalities. Sixty-seven drivers and their assistants also died.

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

Of the road crashes, 217, or 42.30 percent, occurred on regional roads and 163 on national highways. Another 71 took place on urban roads and 62 on rural roads.

Loss of control accounted for the highest number of crashes, with 195 incidents, or 38 percent. There were also 126 head-on collisions, 106 crashes involving pedestrians being hit or run over, and 78 cases of vehicles hitting another vehicle from behind.

Dhaka division recorded the highest number of crashes, with 172 accidents leaving 144 people dead, while Barishal had the lowest, with 15 crashes and 14 deaths.

Bogura recorded the highest death toll among districts, with 37 fatalities. In Dhaka city, 23 people were killed and 54 injured in 48 crashes.

Among identifiable occupational groups, 61 students were killed. The victims also included 27 political party leaders and activists, 24 traders, 21 sales representatives, 19 NGO workers, 13 day labourers, 12 bank and insurance employees, 11 teachers, four journalists and three doctors.

The foundation identified excessive speed and loss of vehicle control as major causes of crashes. It also cited faulty vehicles and roads, reckless driving, weak traffic management and poor enforcement of traffic rules.

It recommended technology-based speed monitoring, safer road design, removal of expired vehicles, better driver training and reforms to road safety institutions.