Dhaka’s streets saw their highest amount of deaths from road accidents in 2018, a report has said.
At least 4,439 people were killed—and 7,425 were injured—in 3,103 road accidents across Bangladesh in 2018, a report has said.
Nischa, an organization working to raise awareness against road accidents, presented its annual report at a press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Tuesday.
According to the report—that is based on news reports—Dhaka district saw its highest number of road accidents, 339, in 2018. The resulting death toll stood at 346 people in the capital city.
Nischa Chairman Ilias Kanchan said: “A total of 4,439 people were killed in 3,103 accidents across the country in 2018. At least 7,425 people were also injured in these accidents.
“In 2018, 35% of accidents occurred because of a truck or covered van.”
Meanwhile, two people died in road accidents in Nawabganj, the lowest number of deaths from such incidents last year.
The report said the number of motor bike accidents numbered 634 in 2018, which was 5.85% less than in 2017. In 2017, the number of road accidents was 3,349 with a death toll of 5,645. Out of the total deaths in 2017, 27% died in motorcycle accidents.
The speakers at the meeting recommended that: measures be taken to ensure that issues of road safety be added to the school curriculum, political commitments made by the politicians in their election manifestos be implemented, law enforcement agencies take strict measures against law-breakers, a government driving and mechanical institute be set up in every district for youths to become skilled drivers.
They also suggested that: standard road dividers be set up on highways, the word security be included in the Road Transport Act, regular road safety audits and campaigns be conducted, footpaths be freed from illegal occupation, and overpasses and underpasses be constructed on national and regional highways for pedestrians.