Dhaka: Bangladesh witnessed a 35 percent decrease in road accidents while around 45 percent fall in casualties in 2016 compared to the previous year, according to a report of the National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR).

According to the report, a total of 3,412 people were killed and 8,572 others injured in 2,998 road accidents in 2016. Of them, 470 were women and 453 children.

On the other hand, 4,592 road accidents killed at least 6,823 people, including 781 women and 762 children, and wounded 14,026 others in 2015.

The figures showed that the road accidents were decreased by 35 percent while deaths by 50 percent and injuries by 39 percent in the just-concluded year than 2015.

The report was prepared based on reports published in 20 national newspapers, 10 regional newspapers and eight online news portals and news agencies.

The national committee mentioned seven vital reasons for accidents.

They include lack of implementation of law to stop plying unfit vehicles, employing unskilled drivers without having any legal licence, reckless driving, overloading and overtaking tendency of drivers violating laws, not following traffic rules and regulations, long-time driving without any interval and a number of risky turning points on several roads and highways and dilapidated roads.

The NCPSRR also identified five reasons for the reduction in the number of road accidents. These are growing public awareness by publishing reports on road transportation on media round the year, arranging different programmes against road accidents by different social organisations, Road Transport and Bridges minister's active presence on roads, increased responsibility of policemen and mobile courts against faulty vehicles and fake driving licences and identifying different risky turning points, and establishing cautionary signs there and road repair.