6,284 killed in road accidents in 2021: Report

As many as 6,284 people, including 927 women and 734 children, were killed in 5,371 reported road accidents across the country in 2021.

Road Safety Foundation (RSF), an organisation that campaigns for safe roads, on Saturday revealed a new report on accidents on Bangladesh's periolous roads last year.

The report was prepared based on accident news reported by seven national dailies, five online news portals and electronic media.

According to the report, 7,468 people suffered injuries in road accidents during the period.

Last year, motorcycle accidents turned out to be the deadliest ones as those alone caused death to 2,214 people, which is 35.23% of the total deaths.

A total of 2,078 motorbike accidents were reported during the year that account for 36.38% of the total accidents.

According to the RSF findings, at least 1,523 pedestrians were killed in road accidents, accounting for 24.23% of the total deaths from road accidents.

Some 798 drivers and their assistants also lost lives in road crashes (12.69% of the total deaths).

Meanwhile, 159 people died, 192 suffered injuries and 47 went missing in 76 waterways accidents during the period, said RSF.

In 123 railway accidents, 147 people were killed and 39 suffered injuries in 2021.

According to the RSF report, 82% of the level crossings in the country are unprotected which caused deaths to 47 people in 33 accidents.

The Dhaka division witnessed the highest number of accidents with 1,545 deaths from 1,344 accidents while the Rangpur division recorded the lowest number of accidents with 443 deaths from 398 accidents.

13.47% rise in road accident

According to the RSF, the number of road crashes increased by 13.47%, while fatalities by 15.70% and injuries by 1.20% in 2021.

The number of motorbike accidents increased by 50.47% and deaths from it increased by 51.33% compared to the previous year.

Why Bangladesh roads so perilous

In its report, the RSF mentioned 10 causes for the road accidents that occurred in the country.

Reckless driving, poor traffic management, movement of unfit and slow pace vehicles on highways, semi skilled drivers and lack of their physical and mental fitness, undetermined working hours, lack of capability of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), lack of awareness on traffic rules, extortion in the transport sector were pointed as the reasons behind the growing road crashes.

Suggestions

The RSF suggested taking steps for the skill development of drivers, fixing their wages and working hours, enhancing BRTA's capacity, constructing separate roads for slow paced vehicles, and dividers on roads to decrease the number of accidents.

Besides, developing the traffic system, stopping extortion of money and corruption in the transport sector, reducing pressure on roads by improving the services on railways and waterways, and enforcement of the Road Safety Act, 2018 may reduce the number of road accidents, said the RSF.