Road accidents kill 2329 in 6 months: SCRF report

A bus hit a private car on Khulna-Jashore road in Fultola upazila on 25 February 2019. UNB File Photo
A bus hit a private car on Khulna-Jashore road in Fultola upazila on 25 February 2019. UNB File Photo

At least 2,329 people, including 291 women and 381 children, were killed and 4,361 others injured in 2,159 road accidents across the country in the first half of the current year, says a new report.

It says the road accidents took place on various highways, national, inter-district and regional roads between 1 January and 30 June across the country.

Shipping and Communication Reporters Forum (SCRF), a platform of journalists, prepared the report based on news published in 22 national dailies, 10 regional newspapers and eight news portals and news agencies.

According to the report, 411 people, including 53 women and 71 children, lost lives and 725 others sustained injuries in 383 accidents in January.

Some 401 accidents occurred in February where 415 people were killed and 884 others injured. Among the deceased, 58 were women and 62 children.

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

Some 327 accidents occurred in April that claimed 340 lives and left 610 others injured. Among the deceased, 38 were women and 53 children.

In May, 338 people, including 47 women and 44 children, lost lives and 504 others injured in 297 accidents.

A total of 367 road crashes took place in June claiming the lives of 439 people and leaving 818 others injured. Among the deceased, 49 were women and 69 children.

SCR Forum president Ashis Kumar Dey told UNB that the forum identified 10 major reasons behind the rise in road accidents in the country.

The reasons are: dangerous race by drivers and reckless driving, contractual leasing out of vehicles to drivers or conductors on daily basis, employing drivers without having any license, lack of awareness among pedestrians and small vehicle drivers, especially motorcyclists, drivers’ tendency to overload and overtake violating traffic rules.

Besides, driving for a long-time 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 are found to be responsible for increasing the number of road accidents.