‘Accidents kill 1,234 in three months’

At least 1,234 people were killed and 2,055 others injured in road, train and riverway accidents across the country in the first three months of this year. Road Safety Foundation, a non-government organisation, yesterday revealed this in its regular monthly survey and observation report. The report was prepared on the basis of reports in 11 national dailies, different regional newspapers and nine online news portals and agencies.

In the road mishap category, 339 people were killed and 571 others injured in 3,327 accidents in January. There were 386 accidents in February, in which 421 people died and 734 others were injured.  In March, 403 people were killed and 693 others injured in 336 road crashes across the country.

In the train accident category, 52 people were killed and nine others injured in 47 mishaps in the last three months.

In all, 19 people were killed and 48 others injured in 35 riverway accidents.

Executive director of the foundation, Saidur Rahman, said they identified nine major reasons for the increasing number of road accidents.

They are: speeding tendency among drivers and reckless driving; contractual leasing of vehicles to drivers or conductors on a daily basis; employing drivers having no licence; lack of awareness among pedestrians and small vehicle drivers, especially motorcyclists; more profit  tendency of owners; faulty and old vehicles; violating traffic rules on long routes and physical and mental sickness of drivers.

The foundation has made recommendations to reduce road accidents: stop extortion in public transportation, employ skilled drivers, fix the salary and working hours of drivers, construct road divider on highways, and have four-lane highways.

Accidents kill 1,234 in three months

At least 1,234 people were killed and 2,055 others injured in road, train and riverway accidents across the country in the first three months of this year. Road Safety Foundation, a non-government organisation, yesterday revealed this in its regular monthly survey and observation report. The report was prepared on the basis of reports in 11 national dailies, different regional newspapers and nine online news portals and agencies. In the road mishap category, 339 people were killed and 571 others injured in 3,327 accidents in January. There were 386 accidents in February, in which 421 people died and 734 others were injured. In March, 403 people were killed and 693 others injured in 336 road crashes across the country. In the train accident category, 52 people were killed and nine others injured in 47 mishaps in the last three months. In all, 19 people were killed and 48 others injured in 35 riverway accidents. Executive director of the foundation, Saidur Rahman, said they identified nine major reasons for the increasing number of road accidents. They are: speeding tendency among drivers and reckless driving; contractual leasing of vehicles to drivers or conductors on a daily basis; employing drivers having no licence; lack of awareness among pedestrians and small vehicle drivers, especially motorcyclists; more profit tendency of owners; faulty and old vehicles; violating traffic rules on long routes and physical and mental sickness of drivers. The foundation has made recommendations to reduce road accidents: stop extortion in public transportation, employ skilled drivers, fix the salary and working hours of drivers, construct road divider on highways, and have four-lane highways.