A total of 498 people have died and 978 were injured in 493 road crashes in September across the country, according to a study by the Passenger Welfare Association of Bangladesh.
In a statement on Thursday, the association said another 40 road crashes on railways have claimed 37 lives and left four injured in the month, alongside 14 mishaps on the waterways that left 19 people dead, 56 wounded and 47 others missing.
In total, 554 people have been killed and 1,038 injured in 547 accidents on road, rail and waterways.
The accident monitoring cell of the association compiled the report based on a review of the news of road, rail and waterway accidents covered by the media.
Motorcycle crashes have been the most frequent cause of accidents in the past month. During this period, 195 people were killed and 149 others injured in 192 motorcycle accidents. They account for 38.94 percent of total accidents, 39.15 percent of deaths and 15.23 percent of the injuries.
The Chattogram Division saw the highest number of road accidents. The study shows a total of 109 people were killed and 251 injured in 116 road accidents in the division in September.
Barishal Division saw the least number of accidents with 23 deaths and 48 injuries in 26 road accidents.
Among the dead were 86 pedestrians, 52 women, 41 children, 42 students, 94 drivers of various means of transport, 12 teachers, 12 transport workers, four police personnel, two army members, an Ansar member, two doctors, and eight faithful of various political parties.
The association said 68 women and 56 children were among those injured in road accidents.
In addition, 10 members of the law-enforcing agencies, 109 drivers, 87 pedestrians, 49 transport workers, 51 students, 12 teachers, two doctors and eight leaders and activists of various political parties have been injured.
The road accidents in September involved a total of 792 vehicles. Of them, 27.52 percent are motorcycles, 21.71 percent trucks, pickups, covered vans and lorries, 13.35 percent buses, 15.15 percent battery-run autorickshaws and easybikes, 7.44 percent CNG-run autorickshaws, 2.32 percent three-wheelers and 7.57 percent cars, jeeps, and microbuses.
Of the total accidents across the country, 3.65 percent took place in Dhaka and 1.41 percent in Chattogram city.
The study mentioned several causes for road accidents in September, including the absence of traffic and highway police on roads and highways, lack of road signs or markings, lights, and turning signs, and construction problems on highways
The association also made 11 recommendations to reduce road accidents, including the suspension of the import and registration of small vehicles such as motorcycles and easybikes, sufficient lighting for driving at night on the highways, and fixing drivers' salaries and working hours.
