Dhaka, Nov 10 (V7N)- Bangladesh reported a total of 443 road accidents in October, resulting in 469 fatalities and 837 injuries, according to the Road Safety Foundation. Among the deceased were 74 women and 66 children.

Motorcycle accidents accounted for 208 incidents, with 196 deaths, making up 41.79% of total fatalities and reflecting a motorbike accident rate of 46.95%. Additionally, 102 pedestrians (21.74%) and 67 vehicle operators or assistants (14.28%) lost their lives in road accidents.

During the month, four maritime accidents resulted in seven deaths and three injuries, while 21 rail incidents led to 18 fatalities and six injuries. This report was compiled from data gathered by nine national newspapers, seven online news portals, electronic media, and internal Road Safety Foundation records.

Fatalities by Vehicle Type

The report showed that motorcycle passengers represented 41.79% of the total fatalities, with 196 deaths. Bus passengers accounted for 6.60% with 31 deaths, while those in trucks, vans, pickups, trolleys, or lorries comprised 4.26% with 20 deaths. Meanwhile, 12 private car, microbus, and ambulance passengers (2.55%) and 94 three-wheeler passengers (20.04%) also lost their lives.

Accident Locations by Road Type

Analysis showed that 39.05% of accidents occurred on national highways, 36.56% on regional roads, 14.44% on rural roads, and 8.57% in urban areas. An additional 1.35% of accidents occurred in other locations.

Types of Accidents

The incidents involved 112 head-on collisions (25.28%), 171 accidents due to loss of control (38.60%), 104 cases of pedestrians being struck (23.47%), 42 rear-end collisions (9.48%), and 14 other accidents (3.16%).

Vehicles Involved

A total of 773 vehicles were involved in accidents, with trucks, vans, pickups, and similar heavy vehicles accounting for 25.48% of these incidents. Motorcycles contributed to 28.07%, three-wheelers like autorickshaws to 17.59%, and passenger buses to 14.48%. Other vehicle categories included microbuses, private cars, ambulances, and jeeps (4.39%), while bicycles and rickshaws made up 1.81%.

Time of Day Analysis

Accidents occurred at varying times, with 5.41% happening at dawn, 26.63% in the morning, 16.93% in the afternoon, 15.57% in the evening, 9.25% around dusk, and 26.18% at night.

Accident Statistics by Division

The Dhaka division recorded the highest proportion of incidents, with 29.57% of accidents and 30.70% of fatalities. Rajshahi reported 15.34% of accidents, followed by Chittagong with 17.83%. The fewest incidents were observed in Sylhet, where 22 accidents led to 24 deaths.

Occupational Analysis of Deceased

The fatalities included three police officers, two Ansar members, nine educators, and four journalists, underscoring the diverse impact of road accidents.

The Road Safety Foundation urged relevant authorities to address these alarming statistics and implement measures for road safety improvements across the country.

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