'Over 1,200 killed in road crashes in 3 months'

At least 1,212 people, including 157 women and 215 children, were killed and 2,429 others injured in 1,168 road accidents in the first three months of the current year.

The accidents took place on various highways, national, inter-district and regional roads between 1 January and 31 March across the country.

The National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR), a non-government organisation, on Tuesday revealed the information in its regular monthly survey and observation report, reports UNB.

The report was prepared on the basis of 22 national dailies, 10 regional newspapers and eight online news portals and news agencies.

According to the report, 411 people, including 53 women and 71 children, lost lives and 725 others received injuries in 383 accidents in January. Some 401 accidents occurred in February when 415 people were killed while 884 others injured. Among the deceased, 58 were women and 62 children.

In March, 386 people, including 46 women and 82 children, died and 820 others were injured in 384 road crashes.

Ashis Kumar Dey, general secretary of the national committee, said they identified 10 major reasons for increasing road accidents.

The reasons are: Racing tendency among drivers and reckless driving, contractual leasing of vehicles to drivers or conductors on daily basis, employing drivers without having any licence, lack of awareness of pedestrians and small vehicle drivers, especially motorcyclists, overloading and overtaking tendency of drivers violating traffic rules.

Besides, long-time driving without any interval, lack of implementation of law to stop plying of unfit vehicles, violation of traffic rules on long routes, increase in motorcycles and three-wheelers on roads and highways, and carrying passengers and goods in locally-made motorised vehicles.