The number of accidents and deaths other than motorcycle accidents has remained almost the same in 2019, 2020 and 2021. The total number of accidents and deaths in 2020 and 2021 has increased mainly due to the increasing number of motorcycle accidents and deaths.
At least 6,284 people died and 7,468 were injured in 5,371 road accidents in 2021.
The information was unveiled by Road Safety Foundation at a press conference organised at Dhaka Reporters' Unity on Saturday.
In 2019, a total of 945 people were killed in 1,189 motorcycle accidents in the country. Later, the number of deaths increased to 1,463 in some 1,381 accidents in 2020. A total of 2,214 people were killed in 2,078 motorcycle accidents in 2021.
A total of 4,622 people have died in 4,648 motorcycle accidents in the last three years.
Road Safety Foundation Chairman Prof Dr AI Mahbub Uddin Ahmed read out a written statement at the press conference.
BUET Accident Research Institute Director Prof Md Hadiduzzaman and Vice Chairman of Road Safety Foundation Mohammad Shahjahan Siddiqui, others were also present at the programme.
According to the organisation, around 5,371 road accidents have taken place in the country in 2021. 6,284 people died and 7,468 people were injured. Of these, 2,214 people were killed in 2,078 motorcycle accidents. It is 35.23 percent of the total deaths.
The report was prepared based on the information collected from seven national dailies, five online news portals and television channels.
Compared to 2019, the number of motorcycle accidents has increased by 16.14 percent and the death toll has increased by 54.81 percent in 2020. Compared to 2020, the number of motorcycle accidents has increased by 50.47 percent and the death toll has increased by 51.33 percent in 2021.
The Road Safety Foundation's observation and analysis show that 2,014 (38.49 percent) accidents occurred on national highways, 1,670 (31.09 percent) accidents on regional roads, 954 (16.6 percent) on rural roads, and 665 (12.38 percent) on city roads and 68 (1.26 percent) accidents occurred at other places.
1,057 (19.67 percent) accidents took place due to head-on collisions, 1,813 (33.75 percent) due to loss of control, 1,566 accidents (29.15 percent) due to hitting pedestrians, 822 (15.30 percent) due to hitting vehicles from the back and 113 (2.10 percent) accidents took place due to other reasons.
According to the report, 159 people died, 192 got injured and 47 went missing in 76 waterway accidents while 147 people were killed and 39 were injured in 123 train-related accidents in 2021.
Meanwhile, according to the information of another organisation ‘Nirapad Sarak Chai’, a total of 4,289 people were killed in 3,793 road accidents in 2021.
The organisation disclosed the information at a programme titled 'Presentation of Road Accident Statistics for 2021' at Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of National Press Club on Saturday.
