Bangladesh motorcycle crashes claim 15,700 lives since 2020: report

A total of 15,712 people have died and over 14,000 been injured in motorcycle crashes across Bangladesh between 2020 and July 2026, according to the Road Safety Foundation (RSF).

The foundation said on Saturday that 16,065 such crashes were recorded during these six and a half years.

Its analysis found 3,548 head-on collisions, while 5,497 crashes occurred after motorcycles lost traction. 

Heavy vehicles were involved in 6,314 crashes, while 706 resulted from other causes.

Motorcycle riders were solely responsible for 36.29 percent of crashes. Goods vehicles accounted for 40.34 percent, buses 13.47 percent, three-wheelers 4.55 percent, private cars and similar vehicles 2.72 percent, bicycles and rickshaws 0.76 percent, and pedestrians 1.84 percent.

Of the crashes, 4,773 occurred on national highways, 6,689 on regional roads, 1,957 on rural roads and 2,646 on city roads.

Motorcycles account for 71 percent of Bangladesh’s registered motor vehicles, with many ridden by teenagers and young adults, the foundation said. 

It blamed reckless riding, aggressive advertising and the thrill of speed for fuelling the trend.

People aged 13-35 account for 58 percent of motorcycle crash victims. Motorcycles are 30 times riskier than four-wheeled vehicles, while poor public transport and severe congestion are pushing more people towards bikes.

The foundation said failure to wear quality helmets is a major factor, noting they can cut the risk of death by 48 percent.

Key causes:

•    Reckless riding by teenagers and young people

•    Traffic-law violations

•    Culture of reckless riding in political activities

•    Weak enforcement of traffic laws

•    Lack of awareness campaigns

•    Poor road infrastructure

•    Lack of technology and monitoring

•    Lack of affordable public transport

•    Severe traffic congestion

It recommended mandatory quality helmets, stricter enforcement, safety technology, awareness campaigns, safer roads, responsible motorcycle advertising and affordable public transport.

Comparative figures:

•    2020: 1,381 crashes – 1,463 deaths

•    2021: 2,078 crashes – 2,214 deaths

•    2022: 2,297 crashes – 3,091 deaths

•    2023: 2,532 crashes – 2,487 deaths

•    2024: 2,761 crashes – 2,609 deaths

•    2025: 3,029 crashes – 2,671 deaths

•    July 2026: 1,311 crashes – 1,177 deaths