As many as 483 people, including 64 women and 71 children, were killed and 1,317 others injured in 534 road accidents across the country in November, according to a report of the Road Safety Foundation (RSF).
Like October, Dhaka division recorded the highest number of accidents at 141, resulting in 119 deaths, the RSF report released on Thursday said.
The report noted that the number of fatalities and accidents rose compared to October, increasing by 42 deaths and 48 accidents, respectively.
The RSF prepared the report based on the reports of nine national dailies, seven online news portals and electronic media.
Among the deceased, 194 people died in 227 motorbike accidents, accounting for 40.16% of total fatalities and it is 57 fewer than in the previous month.
The deceased also included 106 pedestrians, 57 drivers and their assistants.
Besides, six waterways accidents claimed at least seven lives, with five missing.
Besides, 38 people were killed and nine others injured in 47 accidents involving trains across Bangladesh last month.
Of the total accidents, 131 accidents occurred on the national highways, 245 on regional roads, 82 on rural roads and 71 on city roads, said the report.
According to the report, 26.40% accidents occurred in Dhaka division, 16.10% in Rajshahi, 20.97% in Chittagong, 12.17% in Khulna, 6.36% in Barisal, 5.61% in Sylhet, 7.11% in Rangpur and 5.24% in Mymensingh division.
Sylhet division saw 30 accidents with the lowest 24 deaths during the same period, said the report.
The RSF identified several key factors behind the rise in road accidents, including faulty vehicles, reckless driving, drivers’ incompetence or illness, unsettled wages and working hours, low-speed traffic on highways, risky motorcycling by youth, frequent violation of traffic rules, poor traffic management, inefficiency of the BRTA, and extortion in the transport sector.
The RSF urged the concerned authorities to take necessary measures to improve road safety across the country.
