Motorbike accidents kill five people daily in Myanmar

Motorbike accidents kill five people daily in Myanmar

Published on Friday, 04 October 2013 17:51

The dead body of a motorcyclist without a halmet (Photo:EMG)

Myanmar's traffic police force has started providing helmets a free of charge to motorcyclists starting from October 1st as more than five people are killed daily in traffic accidents, which also include motorcycling without wearing helmets, Traffic Police Col. Kyaw Htwe from Traffic Police Office said.

There were 8,574 people who died due to traffic collisions from 2011 to August 2013. Among them, 4,287 are motorcycle riders, according to the Traffic Police Office.

"The death and injured rates have increased due to daily occurrences of traffic crashes daily. During last year, the average death rate was 9.09 percent per day. This year, the amount of death rate is growing up to 10.3 percent per day. Among death rates, over 50 percent are motorcycle riders because most of the riders didn't wear the motorcycle helmets. That's why, we, the Traffic Police Force, jointly organized by the local donors are now giving the helmets free of charge to the motorcyclists who are riding without helmets," Kyaw Htwe also said.

The year 2011 alone saw 9,762 traffic accidents injuring 17, 379 people and killing 2,811 others.

During last year, there were also 11,649 traffic accidents in which 19,726 people were injured and 3,326 died.

From January to August this year, 9,058 have occurred and 15, 657 people were injured and 2,437 died, according to sources from the Traffic Police Office.

Kyaw Htwe continued that "Those who died in accidents are between 10 and 40 years old. Due to the accidents, the human resources are declining. The traffic police court will impose the highest penalties on the drivers for speeding and reckless driving to reduce death and injured rates. Moreover, we don't take action against motorcyclists without helmets. Instead, we will hand out free helmets and conduct educative talks on traffic across the country."

The Traffic Police Office will designate the week for free helmet program. The helmet distribution event also includes talks on traffic rules and road safety.

"We will distribute helmets to the riders outside the municipal area but motorcycling will be banned in most urban areas, "Police Lieutenant Colonel Linn Htut said.

Starting from October 1st, the traffic police office have given out helmets to over 700 motorcyclists.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/10/04/motorbike-accidents-kill-five-people-daily-in-myanmar/