‘Road crashes kill 1,552 in 4 months’

--1,495 road accidents take place between Jan and April

-- 195 women, 268 children are among the dead

-- 3,039 people are injured

At least 1,552 people, including 195 women and 268 children, were killed in road accidents across the country between January and April this year, according to a study of NCPSRR, a non-government organisation.

Besides, some 3,039 people were also injured in total 1,495 road accidents in the four months across the country, National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR) today revealed the information in its regular monthly survey and observation report.

The report was prepared on the basis of 22 national dailies, 10 regional newspapers and eight online news portals and news agencies.

According to the report, 411 people were killed and 725 others injured in 383 accidents in January while 415 people killed and 884 others injured in 401 accidents in February.

In March, 386 people died and 820 others sustained injuries in 384 road crashes while some 327 accidents in April killed 340 people and injured 610 others.

Ashis Kumar Dey, general secretary of the National Committee, in the press release, said that they identified 10 major reasons for increasing road accidents.

The reasons are racing tendency among drivers and reckless driving, contractual leasing of vehicles to drivers or conductors on daily basis, employing drivers without having any licence, lack of awareness of pedestrians and small vehicle drivers, especially motorcyclists, overloading and overtaking tendency of drivers violating traffic rules.

Besides, long-time driving without any interval, lack of implementation of law to stop plying of unfit vehicles, violation of traffic rules on long routes, increase in motorcycles and three-wheelers on roads and highways, and carrying passengers and goods in locally-made motorised vehicles.