As many as 7,902 people were killed and 10,372 others injured in 6,261 road crashes across Bangladesh in 2023, Passenger Welfare Association of Bangladesh (PWAB) said in a report.
Besides, 512 people were killed and 475 others injured in 520 railway accidents while 91 died and 152 others were injured in 148 waterway accidents, it added.
The report was released on Sunday after analysing accident reports published in the country's national and regional dailies and online news portals during the period.
A total of 8,505 people were killed and 10,999 others injured in 6,929 accidents on roads, waterways, and railways across the country.
In last nine years, the number of registered vehicles as well as small vehicles, especially motorcycles and easy-bikes, have increased by 4-5 times. Though the High Court banned movement of easy-bike and three-wheeler on national and regional highways, these vehicles ply without any hindrance leading to more fatalities.
As compared to 2022, 11.22 per cent of vehicles involved in accidents in 2023 were battery-run rickshaw-van-easy-bikes, 2.82 per cent were motorcycles, the analysis showed. Besides, 18.34 per cent accidents have increased due to various reasons.
Among those killed in road accidents in 2023, 73 were the members of law enforcement agencies--16 army, 40 police, one RAB, seven BGB, three navy, three Ansar, two fire service personnel, one NSI personal, and 13 freedom fighters.
Besides, 15 journalists, 647 women, 466 children, 416 students, 81 teachers, 1,526 drivers, 260 transport workers, eight engineers, seven lawyers, and 77 activists of different political parties were killed in accidents.
The highest 1,712 people were killed and 2,381 injured in 1,736 road accidents in Dhaka division, while the lowest 38 people were killed and 138 injured in 23 road crashes in Barishal division.
Among those vehicles involved in the accidents were 5.91 per cent car-jeep-microbus, 7.19 per cent Nasimon-Mahindra-Laguna, 5.39 per cent auto-rickshaw, 26.02 per cent motorcycle, 24.84 per cent truck-covered van-lorry, 16.15 per cent bus, 14.47 per cent battery-run rickshaw-easy-bike.
Besides, the number of accidents involving battery-run rickshaw-van-easy bikes increased by 2.82 per cent to 11.22 per cent in 2023 as compared to 2022.
Moreover, 24.36 per cent car-jeep-microbus, 23.22 per cent Nosimon, Korimon-Mahindra-Laguna, 23.03 per cent CNG-run auto-rickshaw, 19.09 per cent motorcycle, 9.84 per cent truck-covered van-lorry road accidents have decreased compared to last year.
Of the accidents, 34.86 per cent occurred on national highways, 28.41 per cent on regional highways and 28.5 per cent on feeder roads.
PWAB identified that plying of slow-moving three-wheelers and pickups on highways, the increase of the movement of three-wheelers, lack of streetlights and road signs, violation of traffic rules, and movement of unfit vehicles are some of the reasons for the accidents.
Besides, faulty construction work on highways, precarious overtaking, carrying passengers on goods-laden vehicles, extortion, unskilled drivers and conductors, and reckless driving stand out as other reasons for the accidents.
To curb accidents, the association recommended some steps, including training of drivers, providing digital vehicle fitness certificates, building separate lanes for slow- and fast-moving vehicles, stopping extortion on roads, and ensuring wages and working hours of drivers.
