Jaywalkers at high risk on Dhaka streets

It was 12:30pm and six-year-old Upoma had just heard the school bell ring. She could not wait to go home that day and attend to her kitten. Her father came to pick her up from school and the two started walking towards their home just like any other day.

As they were crossing the road at Jatrabari, her father clasped her hand tight and started running towards the other side of the road. Sadly, a fast CNG-run three-wheeler hit the duo hard, leaving little Upoma dead on the spot.

Death as a result of jaywalking is not uncommonin Dhaka city.

The Daily Star's road accident stories between 2010 and present found that jaywalkers accounted for 40 percent of all reported deaths due to road accidents in Dhaka city.

It was also found that after jaywalkers, commuters of buses and motorcyclists were at risk. Thirty percent of deaths due to road accidents in Dhaka city were drivers/passengers of buses and motorcycles.

Next came rickshaw pullers and passengers with 10 percent, followed by three-wheelers at 8 percent.

Sadly, some pedestrians were still at risk and death of pedestrians was at 7 percent.

LIMITATIONS

This trend was seen exclusively in The Daily Star reports. Between 2010 and 2015, about 7,000 accidents were reported and one-tenth of these incidents took place in Dhaka city and its outskirts. This study was based upon that information only.