Road accidents have been a major cause for concern across the Indian subcontinent. In 2022 alone, the country reported nearly 169 thousand fatalities due to road accidents. Each year, about three to five percent of the country’s GDP was invested in road accidents. Notably, while India has about one percent of the world’s vehicle population, it also accounted for about six percent of the global road traffic incidents. Almost 70 percent of the accidents involved young Indians.
Cases and causes
Two-wheelers had the maximum involvement in fatal road accidents across the country in 2018. A major portion of the accidents that year occurred at T-junctions. Over speeding has been a cause for concern throughout the country regardless of day or night-time. Moreover, fast and risky maneuvers and illegal street races on roads and highways not designed for the purpose created significant trouble for the police. Over 65 percent of the accidents occurred on straight roads. Additionally, state highways had a share of about 25 percent of the total road accidents in 2018.
Future scenario
Roughly around 17 accident-related deaths occur across India every hour. Fewer cops and empty roads at night, and sometimes even during the day seem to enable motorists to do away with the traffic rules. However, efforts were made to reduce these discrepancies. The police had equipped themselves with night vision speed guns to identify the culprits. Over speeding fine was increased in the amendment of the Motor Vehicles Act as well. The road network has played a crucial role in India’s economic development and the government is likely to continue to invest resources in making road safety a vital component of everyday commute.
Number of deaths due to road accidents across India from 2005 to 2022
(in 1,000s)
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Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (India). (October 30, 2023). Number of deaths due to road accidents across India from 2005 to 2022 (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/746887/india-number-of-fatalities-in-road-accidents/
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (India). "Number of deaths due to road accidents across India from 2005 to 2022 (in 1,000s)." Chart. October 30, 2023. Statista. Accessed October 31, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/746887/india-number-of-fatalities-in-road-accidents/
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (India). (2023). Number of deaths due to road accidents across India from 2005 to 2022 (in 1,000s). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: October 31, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/746887/india-number-of-fatalities-in-road-accidents/
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (India). "Number of Deaths Due to Road Accidents across India from 2005 to 2022 (in 1,000s)." Statista, Statista Inc., 30 Oct 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/746887/india-number-of-fatalities-in-road-accidents/
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (India), Number of deaths due to road accidents across India from 2005 to 2022 (in 1,000s) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/746887/india-number-of-fatalities-in-road-accidents/ (last visited October 31, 2024)
Number of deaths due to road accidents across India from 2005 to 2022 (in 1,000s) [Graph], Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (India), October 30, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/746887/india-number-of-fatalities-in-road-accidents/