Eid Yatra: 51 percent of motorcycle accidents, 42 percent killed: Sangbad Online

Most of the accidents occurred on motorcycles during Ramadan. Most people were killed in the accident of this vehicle. The data of the non-governmental organization Road Safety Foundation says that the motorcycle accident rate is 51.11 percent. And the death rate is 42.50 percent.

In a press conference at the organization’s office in Dhanmondi in the capital on Wednesday (April 24), the organization said that 35 to 4 million people travel on motorcycles from different parts of the country to their destination on Eid Yatra. Motorcycle accidents were widespread, with at least 183 motorcycle accidents killing 156 people. Where there were 7 cases of husband and wife being killed together.

According to Road Safety Foundation’s analysis of accident types, 51.36% of motorcycle accidents occurred during Eid, 23.49% of head-on collisions and 25.13% of accidents involving motorcycle being crushed/pushed by other vehicles.

According to the agency, motorcycles are 30 times more dangerous than 4-wheelers. So it cannot be a substitute for public transport in any way. Mainly because quality public transport is not readily available and affordable, people are traveling on motorcycles to distant destinations.

How much motorcycle accidents have increased
According to the foundation’s data, 133 people were killed in 123 motorcycle accidents during Eid-ul-Fitr 2023. 9.5 people were killed in an average of 8.78 accidents per day. In this year, 10.4 people were killed in an average of 12.2 accidents every day. As a result, motorcycle accidents increased by 38.95% and fatalities increased by 9.47%.

According to the observation of the foundation, teenagers have been involved in a large number of accidents due to reckless riding of motorcycles. 11 cases of 3 deaths occurred on motorcycles. They are all teenagers. 18 pedestrians were killed by a reckless motorcycle. 53 percent of motorcycle accident victims are between the ages of 14 and 20.

367 killed in 358 road accidents
Last Sunday (April 21), the government agency Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) released their report on the Eid Yatra road accident. According to BRTA, 320 people were killed and 462 injured in 286 road accidents in 17 days (April 4 to 20).

Earlier on Saturday, the non-governmental organization Yatri Kalyan Samiti calculated that 407 people were killed and 1398 injured in 399 road accidents. However, the government agency termed the association’s report as ‘misleading’. This time, as given by the Road Safety Foundation, the official data is more, but less than the death toll of the association.

9 national dailies, 7 online news portals, electronic media and reports based on their own information say that 367 people were killed in 358 road accidents in the country in the 15 days before and after Eid (April 4 to April 18). More than 1500 people were injured.

Road Safety Foundation Chairman Professor Dr. at the press conference on Wednesday. AI Mahbub Uddin Ahmed said, although the number published in the media is 493 people. In Dhaka’s National Orthopedic Hospital (Pangu Hospital) alone, 454 people were admitted with road accident injuries during the three days of Eid, most of whom were injured in motorcycle accidents. In this reality, the number of injured people in hospitals across the country will be more than 1500 in 15 days.

Accidents increased by 39.20% and fatalities by 20.19%.
The foundation says that both road accidents and fatalities have increased during the Eid pilgrimage. Last year, 285 people lost their lives in 240 accidents during Eid-ul-Fitr. 20.35 people were killed in an average of 17.14 accidents per day. This year, 24.46 people were killed in an average of 23.86 accidents per day during Eid Yatra.

According to this year accidents have increased by 39.20% and fatalities have increased by 20.19%. 5 families were completely wiped out in the road accident. No one is alive! 74 students of schools, madrassas, colleges and universities have been killed, according to the foundation’s observations.

During this time 7 people were killed and 8 injured in 3 boat accidents. According to the foundation, 19 people were killed and 17 injured in 14 railway accidents.

Professor Mahbub said, ‘Road accidents have become a constant source of fear in our lives. But there is no continuity of effective initiatives to control accidents. Everything is going smoothly. Most road accidents occur due to mismanagement of the road transport sector. To improve this situation, sustainable road transport strategy should be formulated and implemented. This requires the political will of the government.’