A total of 4,144 persons were killed and 5,225 received injuries in road accidents across the country last year, which means 11 people lost their lives daily.
Nirapod Sarak Chai [NSC], a voluntary organization that works on road accident, made the disclosure at a press conference held at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity in the city’s Segunbagicha on Sunday.
The key-note paper, placed by Chairman of NSC and film actor Elias Kanchon, said that the number of death in 2015 was 5,003. The number of accidents was 2,316 in last year while the number was 2,626 in the previous year.
In this regard, the rate of accidents decreased in 2016 which was 14.63 per cent.
According to NSC findings, untrained and illiterate drivers, faulty transports, weak traffic management, unawareness of people, uncontrolled speed, choked roads, lack of political willingness, absence of tough law and lack of implementation of existing law were vital reasons for the accidents.
It also said that highest number of accidents was caused by the trucks. Particularly, excessive speed, reckless driving, carelessness of drivers and conversation on mobile phones were major reasons behind the accidents by truck drivers.
In 2016, the number of bus accidents was 710, loaded truck, motor-cycle accidents 249, covered van and lorry accidents 662, private car and micro bus accidents 192, auto rickshaw, tempo, easy bike, leguna, nasimon, votvoti, alam sadhu, mahendra and other illegal vehicle’s accidents 387.
Apart from it, about 184 accidents took place at level crossings.
“Violating traffic law, scattered parking of vehicles, sudden stopping vehicles, overtaking, chasing, overloading of passengers and goods, taking passengers on the rooftop, not using of foot over bridge and under passes by the pedestrians —were vitals reasons for road accidents,” NSC Chairman Elias Kanchon said.
