Number crunching of casualties in road crashes
The confusion over the death count in road crashes during Eid holidays is unwarranted. Bangladesh Passengers' Welfare Association claimed 155 people were killed in road crashes between July 1 and July 9 across the country while the government put the number at 42. Does that anyway reduce the severity of the problem? Even 42 deaths is 42 too many. Why should there be even one casualty if that can be avoided with some implementable measures?
As disturbing as it may sound, the trend is not new. According to a WHO estimate, the actual number of deaths yearly in road crashes in Bangladesh may be around 20,000, one of the highest in the world, although the numbers released by various authorities in the country are much lower.
It's not just the numbers. The reasons behind such a high number of deaths are also 'unclear.' According to the Accident Research Institute, almost always, it is the driver who gets the blame although their research identifies other factors as well such as the condition of roads, and vehicles and carelessness of pedestrians. Police stations should have specialized, well-trained units to investigate the real reasons behind the crashes. Journalists too can play an important role by producing reports that are more analytical and objective rather than emotional, they recommend.
Instead of splitting hairs on the matter the authorities should take measures to ensure that the number of road accidents and casualties are brought down to zero.
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