423 killed in road crashes across Bangladesh in September

Photo - Collected

At least 423 people were killed and 674 injured in 442 road accidents across Bangladesh in September, with an average of 14 deaths reported every day, according to the Road Safety Foundation (RSF).

Among the dead were 73 women and 61 children. Motorcyclists accounted for nearly one-third of the fatalities, while 106 pedestrians were killed, representing 25.5 percent of the total deaths.

The RSF released its monthly report on Sunday (October 4), based on information collected from nine national dailies, 17 national and regional online news portals, various electronic media outlets and its own sources.

According to the report, 154 motorcycle accidents claimed 139 lives in September, accounting for 34.84 percent of all road crashes. Another 53 vehicle drivers and assistants were killed, representing 12.52 percent of the total fatalities.

Regional roads record highest number of crashes

The highest number of accidents—178, or 40.27 percent of the total—occurred on regional roads. National highways recorded 145 accidents, rural roads 56 and urban roads 63.

Loss of control was the leading type of crash, accounting for 168 incidents, or 38 percent. Pedestrian run-over or collision incidents numbered 109, or 24.66 percent, while head-on collisions accounted for 98, or 22.17 percent. Rear-end collisions numbered 61, or 13.80 percent, while six accidents occurred for other reasons.

By type of vehicle, 139 motorcycle riders and passengers were killed, followed by 88 passengers of three-wheelers. The other fatalities included 26 bus passengers; 21 passengers of microbuses, private cars, ambulances and jeeps; 19 occupants of trucks, covered vans and trollies; 18 passengers of locally made vehicles; and six cyclists.

A total of 691 vehicles were involved in the September crashes. These included 162 motorcycles, 129 three-wheelers, 113 buses, 93 trucks, 46 unidentified vehicles, 32 locally made vehicles, 29 covered vans, 17 pickups, 12 microbuses, 15 private cars, eight ambulances, five jeeps, seven lorries, six trollies, four tractors, three dump trucks, two city corporation garbage trucks and eight bicycles.

Dhaka division sees highest fatalities

Dhaka division recorded the highest number of both accidents and fatalities, with 132 crashes claiming 134 lives. The division accounted for 29.86 percent of all accidents and 31.67 percent of total deaths.

Chattogram accounted for 17.87 percent of accidents and 17.73 percent of fatalities; Khulna 17.42 percent and 14.42 percent; Rajshahi 12.21 percent and 10.87 percent; Mymensingh 7.23 percent and 7.80 percent; Barishal 5.20 percent and 6.61 percent; Rangpur 5.65 percent and 5.91 percent; and Sylhet 4.52 percent and 4.96 percent, respectively.

As an individual district, Gazipur recorded the highest number of deaths, with 38 fatalities.

Sylhet recorded the lowest number of crashes and fatalities among the divisions, with 20 accidents claiming 21 lives.

In the capital, 52 road accidents killed 21 people and injured 47 others in September.

The RSF also analysed the professional identities of those killed based on media reports. The victims included two police members, one army member, 13 teachers, three journalists, two doctors, four engineers, one customs official, one foreign national and 11 employees of banks and insurance companies.

Among the other victims were 18 NGO workers, 24 political party leaders and activists, 25 businesspeople, 21 sales representatives of pharmaceuticals and other products, three mosque imams or caretakers, four motor mechanics, six garment workers, one cleaner, 14 day labourers and 58 students from different educational institutions.

Time-wise, the highest proportion of crashes, 24.43 percent, occurred in the morning. Another 21.26 percent occurred at noon, 17.42 percent in the afternoon, 16.96 percent at night, 11.76 percent in the evening and 8.14 percent at dawn.

The country also recorded fatalities in waterways and railways during the month. Eleven waterway accidents left 16 people dead, seven injured and four missing, while 23 railway track accidents killed 19 people and injured six.

The RSF said excessive speed and loss of control were among the leading causes of road crashes. It called for greater technology-based monitoring to control speeding, alongside motivational training for drivers. It also highlighted reckless driving and pedestrian negligence as factors behind the rising number of pedestrian deaths, recommending extensive government-backed public awareness campaigns through mass and social media.

The organisation identified faulty vehicles and roads, reckless driving, drivers’ irresponsible attitudes, lack of skills and physical or mental illness as major causes of accidents. Other factors included uncertain wages and working hours, the operation of slow-moving vehicles on highways, reckless motorcycle riding by young people, ignorance of and disregard for traffic laws, weak traffic management, capacity shortages at the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and extortion in the public transport sector.

The RSF recommended restructuring the National Road Safety Council and reforming the management and institutional structures of the BRTA, Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) and Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA).

It also called for mandatory use of modern safety technology, withdrawal of unfit and expired vehicles, introduction of company-based modern bus services in Dhaka and initiatives to produce skilled drivers. Other recommendations include ensuring drivers’ wages, working hours and healthcare; constructing service roads for slow-moving vehicles on highways; and appointing gatekeepers at all railway crossings.

The organisation also proposed allocating funds in the national budget to improve road users’ awareness and skills and establishing a unified ministry overseeing road, rail and water transport.

According to the RSF, a safer transport system can be built through coordinated improvements in policies, technology and infrastructure, alongside education and awareness programmes for road users. It said political commitment from the government would be crucial to implementing these measures.