Road accidents kill 576 people in July

Road accidents kill 576 people in July

As many as 576 people were killed and 1055 were injured in 505 road accidents across the country in July, said a report of Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity.

Forty-eight people died in 47 railway accidents while 21 died and 15 injured in 16 waterway accidents, it said.

The report was published on Saturday after analysing accident reports published in the country’s national and regional dailies and online news portals during the period.

Total 644 people were killed and 1075 others injured in 644 accidents on roads, waterways and railways across Bangladesh.

At least 195 people died and 122 others were injured in some 180 motorbike accidents across the country last month which is 35.64 per cent of the total accidents and 31.61 per cent of the total fatalities.

Among those killed in road accidents in July, 119 people were drivers, 77 pedestrians, 17 transport workers, 29 students, seven teachers, three members of law enforcement agencies, one army personnel, one navy personnel, one Border Guard Bangladesh member, one fire service man, 82 women, 42 children and seven activists of different political parties.

Highest 173 people were killed and 271 injured in 157 road accidents in Dhaka division while lowest 38 people were killed and 138 others injured in 23 road crashes in Barishal division.

Among those vehicles involved in the accidents were 18.74 per cent buses, 22.84 per cent pick-up vans, covered vans and lorries, 6.83 per cent cars, jeeps and microbuses, 5.74 per cent CNG-run auto-rickshaws, 25.99 per cent motorbikes, 15.32 per cent battery-run human haulers and 4.51 per cent three-wheeler vehicles.

Of the accidents, 38.61 per cent occurred on national highways, 30.69 on regional highways and 24.15 per cent on roads.

Besides, 5.34 per cent accidents occurred in Dhaka city, 0.39 per cent in Chattogram city and 0.79 per cent on rail tracks.

The association identified plying of slow-moving three-wheelers and human-haulers on highways, increase of the movement of three-wheelers, lack of street lights and road sign, violation of traffic rules, movement of unfit vehicles, faulty construction work on highways, dangerous overtaking, carrying passengers on goods-laden vehicles, extortion, unskilled drivers and helpers and reckless driving as the reasons of the road accidents.