Some 4,284 people were killed and 9,112 people were injured in 3,472 road accidents across the country in 2017, a rights group's survey has revealed.
According to the survey, the number of death toll increased by 26 per cent and accidents rose by 16 per cent last year comparing to the corresponding year.
National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR) compiled the figure from the reports published in 22 national dailies, eight online portals, 10 local newspapers, and agencies, a statement said on Monday.
Among the victims, 516 women and 539 children lost their lives in 2017.
On monthly basis, the highest 472 people died in 372 accidents in February 2017, while 1,049 were injured.
According to NCPSRR, a total of 2,998 accidents took 3,412 lives, including 470 women and 453 children, in 2016. However, the loss was much higher in the previous calendar year. A total of 4,592 accidents took lives of 6,823 people and injured 14,026 in 2015.
The organisation identified nine reasons behind the road accidents, including reckless driving, disobeying traffic rules, improper overtaking, overloading, plying of increased number of three-wheelers, and driving without rest for a long duration.
Besides, locally-made automobiles, unfit vehicles, unskilled drivers without license, and poorly constructed roads are also responsible for the increased number of road accidents.
NCPSRR General Secretary Ashish Kumar Dey said poor monitoring of the authorities concerned and lack of public awareness are liable for the increased number of road accidents in recent times.
He said the authorities need to abolish anarchy and disorderliness in the public transport sector for minimizing the number of death toll to a tolerable level.
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