22 died per day in road accidents during 13-day Eid vacation: RSF

On average, 22 people died per day during the 13-day Eid-ul-Azha travel period from May 21 to June 2, according to a report by the Road Safety Foundation (RSF).

A total of 281 people were killed and 837 others injured in 292 road accidents across Bangladesh during the period.

Of the deceased, 34 were women and 48 children.

The rate was lower than last year's 12-day holidays, when on average 26 people died resulting in 312 deaths, although the RSF said the reduction does not reflect a structural improvement in transport safety.

Motorcyclists accounted for the highest number of fatalities (44.12 percent), with 124 deaths in 141 motorcycle crashes. Motorcycle accidents also made up 48.28 percent of all crashes.

Motorcycle deaths were followed by deaths of passengers on auto-rickshaws and easy-bikes (17.08 percent), 32 passengers of trucks, covered vans, pickups and tractors (11.38 percent), 21 bus passengers (7.47 percent), 11 passengers of private cars and ambulances (3.91 percent), and eight passengers of locally made vehicles (2.84 percent).

Pedestrians accounted for 37 deaths (13.16 percent), while drivers and their assistants made up 33 deaths (11.74 percent).

During the period, 13 accidents on waterways left eight people dead and 15 injured. 

In addition, 22 rail accidents resulted in 17 deaths and nine injuries.

Meanwhile, the Dhaka division recorded the highest of 95 accidents and 101 deaths, followed by Rajshahi (18.50 percent of deaths), Chattogram (12.09 percent), Khulna (10.32 percent), Rangpur (7.82 percent), Barishal (7.11 percent), Mymensingh (5.69 percent) and Sylhet (2.49 percent).

On a district basis, Faridpur recorded the highest toll with 19 accidents killing 28 people.

Of the total accidents, 97 (33.21 percent) occurred on national highways, 112 (38.35 percent) on regional roads, 42 (14.38 percent) on rural roads, 37 (12.67 percent) in urban areas and 4 (1.36 percent) in other locations.

The report said 127 accidents (43.49 percent) were caused by loss of control, 73 (25 percent) were head-on collisions, 42 (14.38 percent) were rear-end collisions, 38 (13 percent) involved hitting pedestrians, and 12 (4.10 percent) were due to other reasons.

The RSF identified speeding, reckless motorcycle use among youths, poor vehicle conditions, weak traffic management, and unfit drivers as major causes of accidents.