ABSTRACT
Road traffic accidents in Bangladesh have been rapidly increasing with huge mortality through road accidents each year. There are many causes of road accidents in recent years; one important cause is running of locally made improvised three wheelers (flat bed tricycle) in the urban areas and also on the highways, popularly known as 'Nasimon' and 'Karimon'. This prospective study was carried out in Faridpur Medical College Hospital from January through June 2011, to study the accident patients caused by 'Nasimon' and 'Karimon'. Fifty six (12%) patients were of RTA by 'Nasimon' and 'Karimon' out of a total of 468 patients admitted into our hospital during this period. Most patients (41, 73.21%) were male, highest accidents (24, 42.86%) were observed among 21-30 years age group and most victims (33, 58.93%) were belonged to low socioeconomic status. Commonest (31, 55.36%) victims were passengers of 'Nasimon' and 'Karimon' while maximum number of accidents (46, 82.14%) took place in the urban areas and on the highways. Injury pattern of victims were similar to that found in any other road accident patients. These three wheelers 'Nasimon' and 'Karimon' are run in violating of Bangladesh Motor Vehicles Act (1983) as they are totally unfit for plying on the highways. Strict surveillance against these illegal and risky vehicles on the highways and in the urban areas by law enforcing agencies is required as a measure to reduce the burden of road accidents in our country.