In the past decade (2014-2023), India has seen approximately 1.53 Lakh people lose their lives in road crashes, a toll greater than the population of the Union Territory of Chandigarh and nearly matching that of Bhubaneswar. This staggering figure comes despite the Central government’s commitments to reduce road fatalities and several interventions from the Supreme Court aimed at curbing road-related deaths.
Data from the Union Road Transport Ministry reveals a road death rate of around 250 per 10,000 kilometres. In comparison, the rates in the United States, China, and Australia stand at significantly lower levels, with respective figures of 57, 119 and 11 per 10,000 km.
During the preceding decade (2004-2013), approximately 1.21 lakh people lost their lives in road accidents, according to the Ministry’s records. Experts point out that while the rise in fatalities must be viewed against the backdrop of increases in population, road network length, and vehicle numbers, little has been done to address this large-scale loss of life. Government data show the number of registered vehicles more than doubled, from 15.9 crore in 2012 to around 38.3 crore in 2024. Similarly, the road network expanded from 48.6 lakh km in 2012 to 63.3 lakh km in 2019, according to the latest available figures.
Experts argue that the rise in road length and vehicles alone cannot justify the increasing death toll. They stress that while it is well known that road safety requires collaboration among various government departments, stakeholders and non-profit organisations, progress remains limited, with relevant agencies often working in isolation.
Former senior police officers have also raised concerns, highlighting that while officers are held accountable for unsolved murders, similar accountability is rarely demanded in the case of fatal road crashes. “Senior officers rarely question subordinates, even if there are multiple fatalities, or enquire about the outcome of investigations. Road crashes are not a priority for all agencies,” commented a former Delhi Police officer.
T. Krishna Prasad, a former IPS officer, chairman of Telangana’s Road Safety Authority, and a current MP, echoed these sentiments, observing that road crashes do not receive the attention they warrant. He plans to introduce a private member’s bill on road safety, emphasising that the annual road death toll far surpasses that of any natural disaster India has witnessed.
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