At least 519 people lost their lives in 458 road accidents across Bangladesh in August, says a report prepared by the Road Safety Foundation (RSF).

Another 961 people were injured in the accidents that took place last month.

Among the deceased, 64 were women and 69 were children.

Meanwhile, 172 people were killed in 183 motorcycle accidents -- which accounts for 33.14% of all the deaths.

Some 109 pedestrians were killed in road crashes, which is 21% of the total deaths.

On the other hand, 74 drivers and assistants of vehicles were killed, which is 18.11% of all deaths recorded in August.

During the same period, eight people were killed in 11 boat accidents. 

Whereas, at least 24 died and nine others got injured in 23 railway accidents.

The RSF based its findings on the reports of nine national dailies, seven online news portals and electronic media.

Of the total accidents, 252  occurred on national highways, 199 on regional roads, 109 on rural roads, 64 on city roads and eight in other places, said the report.

According to the report, 27.72% of accidents occurred in Dhaka division, 15.28 % in Rajshahi, 21.61% in Chattogram, 10.08% in Khulna, 8.80% in Barishal, 4.14 % in Sylhet, 8.95% in Rangpur and 7.42% in Mymensingh divisions.

The highest number of accidents was recorded in Dhaka division where 242 people were killed in 127 accidents.

Twenty-one people were killed in Sylhet division, the lowest compared to other divisions, added the report.

The RSF pointed out several major reasons behind the rise in the number of road accidents.

The reasons include faulty vehicles; reckless driving; desperate mentality, incompetence and illness of drivers; unsettled wages and working hours; the prevalence of low-speed traffic on highways; reckless motorcycling by the youth; the tendency of flouting traffic rules, poor management of traffic; lack of efficiency of the BRTA; and extortion in the sector.

Accidents involving high-speed vehicles, including trucks, and motorcycles have increased dramatically.

In this situation, no government initiative is visible, RSF added in a statement issued on Saturday.

The concerned authorities are not interested in the implementation of the Road Transport Act-2018.

To improve this situation, it is necessary to formulate and implement sustainable road transport strategies.

This requires the political will of the government, adds the RSF statement.