Background Approximately 1.25 million people died on the world’s roads, and another 20 to 50 million sustain nonfatal injuries in 2013. In Bangladesh, the deaths from road traffic crashes are notably high (13.6 per 100,000 population) like other low-income countries. Road traffic injuries has not yet been addressed comprehensively in Bangladesh despite of high burden. In this study, we aimed to explore the magnitude and determinants of road traffic injuries in Bangladesh.

Methods A community-based active surveillance system covering around 150,000 population was developed in three unions (lowest administrative infrastructure) of a sub-district of Sirajgonj district, Bangladesh in 2005. Every year, four rounds of data are being collected from the each and every households of the surveillance areas. July 2009 to June 2010 data from this surveillance system was analysed for this study.

Results It was revealed that rate of road traffic injuries were significantly higher among adults than children (589.72 and 210.85 per 100,000 population per year respectively). Rate of injuries among male were significantly higher than female (406.92 and 94.29 per 100,000 population per year respectively). Bicyclist (21%), motorcyclist (17%), passenger of rickshaw/van (17%) and pedestrians (14.9%) were the most vulnerable road users. Rate of permanent disability due to road traffic injury among adults and children are 4.13 and 1.27 per 100,000 population per year respectively. More than half (50.1%) of the victims were on their way to work place. 40% of the victims lost their mobility due to injury. It was found that almost half (44.8%) of the victims were the main income earner of their families.

Conclusion As the socioeconomic structure are almost similar in all low-income countries, so the result of the study could be an insight to the policy makers of low-income countries including Bangladesh to develop realistic and effective intervention strategies to combat the issue.