Road crashes wiped out nearly 300 families in six years, most deaths in auto-rickshaw crashes

Road crashes have completely wiped out nearly 300 families in the last six years and ten months. The Road Safety Foundation presented this picture after analysing crash data from 2020 to October 2026. The organisation shared the findings in a report published on Sunday.

The Road Safety Foundation said the report was prepared on the basis of nine national dailies, 17 online news outlets, electronic media and its own data.

According to the report, deaths of members of the same family were highest in auto-rickshaw crashes. In 525 such crashes between 2020 and October 2026, 1,728 people were killed. Of these, two members of the same family died in 211 incidents, three in 118, four in 92, five in 53, six in 38 and seven in 13 incidents.

In microbus crashes, members of the same family died in 186 incidents, killing 708 people. Of these, two members of the same family died in 48 incidents, three in 46, four in 39, five in 28, six in 20, eleven in four and fourteen in one incident.

In private car crashes, 352 people died in 108 incidents in which members of the same family were killed. Of these, two members of the same family died in 34 incidents, three in 31, four in 24 and five in 19 incidents.

In ambulance crashes, 162 people died in 45 incidents in which members of the same family were killed. Of these, two members of the same family died in 11 incidents, three in 15, four in nine, five in seven and eight in three incidents.

In bus crashes, 85 people died in 32 incidents in which members of the same family were killed. Of these, two members of the same family died in 17 incidents, three in nine and four in six incidents. There was also one incident in which a pickup van lost control and overturned, killing four members of the same family.

The report also showed more than one member of a family dying in motorcycle crashes. It said there were 193 incidents in which a husband and wife were killed in motorcycle crashes and 159 incidents in which a father and child were killed. In these incidents, 386 and 318 people died respectively.

The Road Safety Foundation's report said that family members travelling together for work or trips, auto-rickshaws running on highways, unfit microbuses and ambulances, and unskilled drivers are among the main causes of such crashes.

The report also said that drivers driving without rest, not using standard helmets, reckless motorcycle riding and the tendency to violate traffic laws are increasing the risk of crashes.

To reduce crashes, the organisation advised motorcycle riders to use standard helmets and follow traffic laws. It also recommended building road dividers and service roads on highways, creating safe designs to stop vehicles entering highways directly from rural roads, and increasing surveillance of vehicle movement.

The Road Safety Foundation also stressed ensuring the institutional effectiveness, transparency and accountability of the organisations concerned with road safety, along with raising awareness among road users.