At least 1,212 people were killed and 2,429 others injured in road accidents across the country in the first three months of 2019, said a report on Tuesday.
Among the dead, 157 were women and 215 children, the report read, saying a total of 1,168 road accidents took place during the period from January 1to March 31.
The National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR), a non-government organistion, unveiled the information in its regular monthly survey and observation report, said a NCPSRR press release.
The report was prepared on the basis of news items of 22 national dailies, 10 regional newspapers and eight online news portals and news agencies, the release added.
According to the report, 411 people, including 53 women and 71 children, lost lives and 725 others received injuries in 383 road accidents in January.
A total of 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, 384 road crashes claimed 386 lives, including 46 women and 82 children, and injured 820 others.
Ashis Kumar Dey, general secretary of the NCPSRR, said they had identified 10 vital reasons for the increase in the number of road accidents during the observation.
Among the reasons were competitive attitude in a number of drivers and reckless driving, contractual lease of vehicles to drivers or conductors on a daily basis, employing unskilled drivers having no license, lack of awareness of pedestrians and small vehicle drivers.
Besides, overloading and overtaking tendency of the drivers, stressful driving without any break, lack of enfacement of the law to stop plying unfit vehicles and disobeying traffic rules and regulations on the long route are also to be blamed for road accidents, the report stated.
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