At least 417 people, including 49 students, were killed and 682 others injured in 446 road accidents across Bangladesh in September, according to a report released on Saturday by the Road Safety Foundation (RSF).

Among them, 18 people lost their lives and 33 others were injured in 42 accidents within Dhaka city alone.

The RSF prepared the report based on data collected from nine national dailies, seven online news portals, and several electronic media outlets.

According to the report, 143 people were killed in motorcycle-related crashes — accounting for 33.85% of total fatalities. The deceased also included 112 pedestrians and 56 drivers or their assistants.

In addition, 17 waterways accidents claimed 21 lives, while 27 people were killed and 13 others injured in 29 train-related accidents.

Of the total road crashes, 214 occurred on national highways, 135 on regional roads, 42 on rural roads, and 60 on city roads.

Regionally, Dhaka division saw the highest number of accidents (28.69%), followed by Chattogram (22%), Rajshahi (18.83%), Rangpur (8.87%), Khulna (6.72%), Mymensingh (5.38%), Barishal (3.58%), and Sylhet (3.35%). Barishal recorded the lowest number of fatalities, with 14 deaths last month.

The RSF identified several key factors behind the high number of accidents, including faulty vehicles, reckless driving, unfit drivers, poor traffic management, BRTA inefficiency, and extortion in the transport sector.

It urged the authorities to take urgent and effective measures to ensure road safety and discipline across the country.

MN/