Road crashes claim 739 lives in July: RSF

As many as 739 people, including 109 children, were killed and 2,042 others injured in 632 road accidents across the country in July, reports UNB.

Of them, 251 people died in motorbike accidents alone, which account for 33.96 per cent of the total fatalities, Road Safety Foundation said in its latest report released on Saturday.

These road crashes left 118 pedestrians, 137 drivers and their assistants dead during the period.

On the other hand, 14 waterways accidents claimed at least 18 lives with seven injuries. Besides, 41 were killed and 33 others injured in 26 train accidents across the country last month.

Road Safety Foundation prepared the report based on the news reports published by nine national dailies, seven online news portals and electronic media.

Of the total, 252 accidents occurred on national highways, 199 on regional roads, 109 on rural roads, 64 on city roads and eight in other places, said the report.

According to the report, 31.48 per cent accidents occurred in Dhaka division, 15.18 per cent in Rajshahi, 16.61 per cent in Chattogram, 13.13 per cent in Khulna, 5.69 per cent in Barishal, 4.90 per cent in Sylhet, 6.0 per cent in Rangpur and 6.69 per cent in Mymensingh divisions.

The highest number of accidents was recorded in Dhaka division where 228 people were killed in 199 accidents. Forty-six people were killed in Barishal division, the lowest compared to other divisions, said the report.

The RSF cited several major reasons behind the rise in the number of road accidents, including faulty vehicles, reckless driving, desperate mentality, incompetence and illness of drivers, unsettled wages and working hours, prevalence of low-speed traffic on highways, reckless motorcycling by youths, tendency of flouting traffic rules, poor traffic management, lack of efficiency of BRTA and extortion in the sector.

RSF urged the authorities concerned to take necessary initiative to address these issues.