Staff Reporter:
Road Safety Foundation (RSF) in an analytical report yesterday said nearly 300 families have been completely wiped out in road accidents over the past 6 years and 10 months.
Talking to , foundation’s executive director Saidur Rahman said the trend of entire families being killed together in road accidents is increasing.
An analysis of road accidents from 2020 to October 2026 shows a growing number of incidents in which entire families, or multiple members of the same family, have been killed while travelling on motorcycles, auto-rickshaws, private cars, microbuses, ambulances, and buses, he added.
Rahman said they prepared this report based on information collected from nine national daily newspapers, 17 online news portals, electronic media, and its own database.
Motorcycle Accidents:
There were 193 incidents in which both husband and wife were killed while travelling on motorcycles, and 159 incidents in which a father and child were killed.
In other words, 386 people (husbands and wives) were killed in 193 motorcycle accidents, while 318 people (fathers and children) were killed in 159 motorcycle accidents.
Auto-Rickshaw Accidents:
A total of 1,728 people were killed in 525 road crashes involving battery-run three-wheeled rickshaw accidents locally called auto-rickshaw.
The number of incidents in which multiple members of the same family were killed while travelling in auto-rickshaws is as follows: 2 family members killed in 211 incidents, 3 family members killed in 118 incidents, 4 family members killed: 92 incidents, 5 family members killed in 53 incidents, 6 family members killed in 38 incidents and 7 family members killed in 13 incidents
Microbus Accidents
The number of incidents in which multiple members of the same family were killed while travelling in microbuses is as follows: 2 family members killed in 48 incidents, 3 family members killed in 46 incidents, 4 family members killed in 39 incidents, 5 family members killed in 28 incidents, 6 family members killed in 20 incidents, 11 family members killed in 4 incidents and 14 family members killed 1 incident. A total of 708 people were killed in 186 road crashes involving motorbuses.
Private Car Accidents:
The number of incidents in which multiple members of the same family were killed while travelling in private cars is as follows: 2 family members killed in 34 incidents, 3 family members killed in 31 incidents, 4 family members killed in 24 incidents, 5 family members killed in 19 incidents.
A total of 352 people were killed in 108 accidents.
Ambulance Accidents:
The number of incidents in which multiple members of the same family were killed while travelling in ambulances is as follows: 2 family members killed in 11 incidents, 3 family members killed in 15 incidents, 4 family members killed in 9 incidents, 5 family members killed in 7 incidents and 8 family members killed in 3 incidents. A total of 162 people were killed in 45 ambulance accidents.
Bus Accidents:
The number of incidents in which multiple members of the same family were killed while travelling on buses is as follows: 2 family members killed in 17 incidents, 3 family members killed in 9 incidents, 4 family members killed in 6 incidents
A total of 85 people were killed in 32 bus accidents.
Pickup Van Accidents:
In one incident, four members of the same family were killed when a pickup van lost control and overturned.
The foundation found out several causes of road crashes including the growing tendency of entire families to travel together for work or leisure, the operation of auto-rickshaws on highways, the lack of roadworthiness and fitness certification of most microbuses and ambulances, the lack of driving skills among microbus and ambulance drivers, along with driving for prolonged periods without adequate rest, failure to use standard-quality helmets and reckless motorcycle driving, the tendency to violate traffic laws.
It gave a set of recommendations including wearing high quality helmets by motorcyclists and pillions and driving motor vehicles in compliance with traffic laws.
It suggested that road dividers and service roads should be constructed on all highways, safe road designs should be developed to prevent rural roads from connecting directly to highways, the movement of vehicles on roads and highways must be properly monitored, the institutional effectiveness, transparency, and accountability of relevant organisations must be ensured, educational and public awareness programmes should be conducted to improve the knowledge and capabilities of road users.
