Road accident toll rises by one-fourth in 2017

At least 4,284 people, including 516 women and 539 children, were killed and 9,112 others injured in 3,472 road accidents across the country in 2017, said a survey report yesterday.

The accidents took place across the country between January 1 and December 31.

The National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR), a non-government organisation, revealed the information in its yearly survey and observation report 2017.

The report was prepared on the basis of news published in 22 national dailies, 10 regional newspapers and eight online news portals and news agencies. According to the report, the year 2016 saw 2,998 road accidents killing 3,412 people, including 470 women and 453 children, and injuring 8,572 others.

This means, the number of accidents increased by 15.82 percent while death toll increased by 25.56 percent in 2017 compared to that of 2016. But, the number of road accidents came down in 2017 compared to 2015, the report added.

NCPSRR mentioned nine main reasons for the accidents and casualties: reckless driving, plying of three-wheeler and motorbike, carrying passengers and goods in locally-made mechanised small vehicles, overloading and overtaking violating laws, not following traffic rules and regulation properly on long routes, long-time driving without break, huge risky turning points and dilapidated roads, non-enforcement of law to stop plying of unfit vehicles, and finally employing unskilled drivers.

Ashis Kumar Dey, general secretary of the national committee, said lack of proper supervision and people's awareness were the major reasons behind the high number of road crashes.