At least 497 people were killed and 747 others injured in 415 road accidents across the country in November, said a report published by the Passenger Welfare Association of Bangladesh on Tuesday.
During the period, 192 people, 38.63 per cent, were killed and 111, 14.86 per cent, were injured in 167 motorcycle related crashes. Some 79 people were killed and 43 others were injured in 64 railways accidents while six people were killed, 25 were injured and two remained missing in 7 accidents on waterways.
The association launched the monthly report based on media reports on Tuesday, according to a press release.
Among the fatal victims, the highest 188 people were transport workers, including drivers, followed by 105 pedestrians, 45 students, 13 teachers and eight political leaders and activists. Twenty-seven children became fatal road crash victims in November.
The highest number of road crashes took place in Dhaka division where in 106 crashes, 129 people were killed and 264 injured and the lowest in Mymensingh division where 27 people were killed and 45 injured in 26 crashes.
Of the crashes, the highest 50.12 per cent crashes were caused by crushing or hitting pedestrians or other vehicles followed by 21.68 per cent by head-on collisions, 18.31 per cent by losing control and then fell into roadside ditches, 9.16 per cent by other reasons, and 0.72 per cent by getting hit by the trains.
The highest percentage, 40.24 per cent, of road crashes took place on regional highways followed by 30.84 per cent on national highways and 22.89 per cent on feeder roads.
Out of all road crashes, 3.86 per cent took place in Dhaka metropolitan city area, and 1.45 per cent within Chattogram metropolitan city.
Absence of traffic and highway police on roads and highways, frequent violation of traffic laws and rules, no road marking, lights and signs on national highways, faulty road construction, unskilled drivers behind wheels and frequent movement of battery-run auto-rickshaws on national and regional highways blamed for deaths on roads.
The association recommended ban on import and registration of smaller vehicles like motorcycles and easy-bikes and movement of fitness defying vehicles, sufficient lights and signs on roads, initiative to have skilled drivers, separate lanes for slow and high speed vehicles, modern bus network, and construction of quality roads to check the situation on streets.