February saw the death of 555 people and injuries to 103 in 503 road accidents across the country, according to data compiled by the passenger welfare body Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity.
At least 37 people were killed and 64 others injured in 38 railway accidents while seven people were killed, four injured and one missing in five waterway accidents, it said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
Its report analyzed accident reports published in the country's national and regional dailies and online media outlets during the period.
A total of 599 people were killed and 1,099 others injured in 546 accidents on roads, waterways and railways.
Two hundred ten people died and 129 others were injured in 173 motorbike accidents across the country last month, which is 34.39% of the total number of accidents, 37.83% of the total number of fatalities and 12.51% of the total number of injuries.
Dhaka division witnessed the highest 115 road accidents with 135 fatalities and 317 injuries while Sylhet division witnessed the lowest 21 road accidents with 22 deaths and 50 injuries.
Of the accidents, 36.77% occurred on national highways, 18.48% on regional roads and 39.76% on feeder roads. Besides, 2.78% of the accidents occurred in Dhaka city, 0.79% in Chittagong city and 1.39% at level crossings, it added.
Causes
According to the observation of Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, the significant causes of road accidents in February were:
- Misapplication of traffic laws, weak enforcement, irregularities of regulatory agencies and corruption
- Massive increase in motorcycles, battery-powered autorickshaws and three-wheelers and free movement of these vehicles on highways
- No road signs or road markings on the roads and highways and no lights on the roads; use of fog lights at night
- Increase of unfit vehicles and incompetent drivers
- Pavement encroachment, vehicle malfunctions and tendency to disobey traffic laws
- Driving in the wrong lane direction, extortion on roads
Recommendations
Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity made the following recommendations to reduce road accidents:
- Launching a comprehensive data bank of road accidents from primary sources under state initiative
- Developing a smart public transport system, stopping import and registration of small vehicles like motorcycles and easy bikes
- Taking initiatives to create competent drivers, ensuring vehicle fitness through a digital system
- Mandatory wearing of reflective vests by cyclists and motorcyclists at night
- Stopping extortion, fixing the salary and working hours of drivers
- Provision of adequate lighting on national and regional highways for night traffic
- Eliminating black spots, conducting road safety audits
- Auditing ongoing routine activities of the BRTA to identify institutional weaknesses and make reforms
