Registering battery-powered rickshaws will double the number of accidents

On Tuesday (14 October), in a media‑released September accident report, he made that statement. The Accident Monitoring Cell of the Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association, which monitors media reports, published the accident data.
 

The accident report states that in September across the country there were 504 road accidents in which 502 people were killed and 964 injured. On railways, 50 accidents caused 46 deaths and 3 injuries. On waterways, 13 accidents resulted in 17 deaths, 15 injuries, and 3 missing persons. Across road, rail, and waterways combined, there were 567 accidents, with 565 deaths and 982 injuries.
 

During this period, 191 motorcycle accidents resulted in 199 deaths and 188 injuries. That accounts for 37.89% of total accidents, 39.64% of total deaths, and 19.50% of total injuries. In September, the highest number of road accidents occurred in Dhaka Division with 126 accidents, 122 deaths, and 216 injuries. The lowest occurred in Barisal Division with 22 accidents, 27 deaths, and 47 injuries.
 

Among 772 vehicles involved in road accidents:

• 29.01% were motorcycles

• 22.02% were trucks, pickups, covered vans, and lorries

• 16.58% were buses

• 12.17% were battery‑powered rickshaws and e‑bikes

• 7.38% were CNG auto‑rickshaws

• 7.25% were Nasimon, Karimon, Mahindra, tractors, and laguna vehicles

• 5.56% were cars, jeeps, and microbuses

Of all accidents:

• 48.80% were vehicle run‑overs

• 28.57% were head‑on collisions

• 17.85% were crashes due to loss of control falling into ditches

• 3.76% were due to various other causes

• 0.39% were due to a vehicle’s wheel catching a scarf

• 0.59% were collisions between train and vehicle
   

According to the Passenger Welfare Association’s observations, the main causes of accidents in September were: monsoon-damaged pothole roads, free movement of motorcycles, battery rickshaws, CNG auto‑rickshaws, and Nasimon‑Karimon on highways; lack of road signs and street lights; absence of medians; blind curves created by roadside vegetation on highways; construction and vehicle defects; traffic law violations; driving on the wrong side; extortion; transporting passengers in cargo vehicles; unskilled drivers; unfit vehicles; overloading; and reckless continuous driving.
 

As recommendations for accident prevention, it was suggested that monsoon‑damaged roads and highways be repaired urgently; lighting be installed at night; skilled driver training be instituted and vehicles given digital fitness certificates; service lanes and footpaths be constructed on major highways; road extortion be eradicated; driver salaries and working hours be assured; road signs and road markings be installed; road transport laws be enforced with modern technology; a modern nationwide bus network be established; the capacity of regulatory authorities be increased; regular road safety audits be conducted; unfit vehicles be scrapped; and the importation and registration of motorcycles and battery-powered rickshaws be controlled.