Record 1,098 motorcycle accidents reported in 2019

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Hasnat Nayem
Published : 00:07, Jan 08, 2020 | Updated : 00:09, Jan 08, 2020

Motorcycle wreckage after an accident at Vennabari rail crossing on the Gopalganj-Barni road in Gopalganj on Mar 20, 2019. FILE PHOTOA record number of 1,098 motorcycle accidents was reported across the country in 2019, says a report by a social welfare platform.
The report by Nirapad Sharak Chai (NISHCHA) unveiled on Saturday (Jan 9) said that 19 percent of the total accidents were caused by motorbikes.
According to experts, reckless driving and un-skilled drivers is behind the alarming rise of road accidents in the country.
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) data says that well over 1.4 million drivers don’t have licences.
NISHCHA says that these unlicensed drivers get away riding motorbikes right under the nose of law enforcers.
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Professor Shamsul Haque told Bangla Tribune that since motorcycles are two-wheelers, they are 30 times more risky.
He said that in Bangladesh motorbikes have been made accessible through lowered prices and the statistics will be higher in the future if it continues.
A motorcyclist was killed while trying to avoid running over a goat on the Sreepur-Satkhamai Highway in Gazipur on Jun 5, 2019. FILE PHOTO“This is why the developed countries do not encourage motorcycles. By the looks of the commerce ministry encouraging factories, the statistics will rise,” he said.
Saying that people buy motorbikes to navigate Dhaka traffic, he added, “Of course in a city with heavy traffic increases efficiency. But it’s extremely risky.”
The road accident expert said that the government must take steps to discourage motorbikes. “The government cannot avoid responsibility if they do not strategically increase the manufacturing price.”
Actor and NISCHA Chairman Ilias Kanchan says that although riders in the metropolitan areas have become more conscious about helmets, those in the rural area are negligent.
“There is a strict ban on underage drivers riding motorcycles,” he said before adding that the youngsters are flouting the rules right in front of the administration.
Kanchan who has been working for road safety for over a decade, said that taking more than one pillion, reckless driving and speaking on phones while driving are behind accidents.
Responding to queries on reducing the number of accidents, he said, “Death rate could have been reduced if steps similar to that of metropolitan areas could be adopted in the rural areas.”
The damaged motorcycle after a collision with a microbus in Kashiani, Gopalganj on Jul 12, 2019. FILE PHOTOHe said that training drivers, spreading awareness, imposition of more strict rules on underage people riding bikes, monitoring speed limits amongst other things can help reduce accidents.
Dhaka Metropolitan Additional Commissioner (traffic) Md Mofiz Uddin Ahmed said that they are alert about illegal riders and no one is spared. “There was a time when motorbikes were uncontrolled.”
He added now people are more aware, wearing helmets and keeping papers in orders and that the law enforcers take legal steps in case of irregularities.

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