Motorcycles continue to be the riskiest mode of road transport in Bangladesh, contributing to 44.71% of all road accidents in the country through the month of September.
At least 476 people were killed, and 794 others were injured in 407 road accidents across Bangladesh last month. Among the deceased, 169 people died in 182 motorcycle accidents, which is 35.5% of the total number of deaths, according to a report released by the Road Safety Foundation (RSF) on Sunday.
The remaining fatalities include 103 pedestrians, 36 bus passengers, 28 passengers of trucks, covered vans, pickups, tractors, or trolleys, and nine microbus or private car drivers or passengers.
Currently, there are 3,897,031 registered motorcycles in Bangladesh, including 992,148 in Dhaka alone. Data from the Buet Accident Research Institute (ARI) show that motorcycles account for 62% of the total number of vehicles plying the roads of the country, with about 26 accidents for every 10,000 motorcycles.
Highlighting the risky nature of motorcycles, Buet ARI Assistant Professor Kazi Md Shifun Newaz told Dhaka Tribune that difficulties in keeping balance, behavioural problems of drivers, refusal to follow traffic rules and unwillingness to wear safety equipment were the main causes of motorcycle accidents.
Experts said the high number of accidents involving motorcycles was worrying.
“Over the past few years, we have noticed that every year many people are losing their lives on the roads due to bike accidents. This number is not decreasing. Although road accidents caused by big vehicles are comparatively more, bike accidents are increasing day by day,” Road Safety Foundation Executive Director Saidur Rahman said.
In August, 519 people were killed and 961 were injured in 458 road accidents across the country. Among the deceased, 172 people died in 183 motorcycle accidents, which is 33.14% of the total number of deaths.
“Fewer accidents in September do not mean they were the result of special measures. The number fluctuates throughout the year,” said Saidur.
He feared that the number of bike accidents would increase over the Puja holidays.
Blaming unskilled and unlicensed drivers for the accidents, Shifun Newaz of ARI said the traffic composition on Bangladesh highways was risky.
He suggested reducing the number of motorbikes on roads, fixing standards for helmets, and enacting a rule so that motorcycle riders cannot carry pillion on highways.
The report by RSF also states that the reasons behind road accidents include reckless speeding, inexperienced drivers, and physical and mental illness.
