Tragic Toll: 7.77 Lakh Lives Lost in Road Accidents Over Five Years - A State-by-State Breakdown

In 2022, the nation recorded a staggering total of 168,491 fatalities due to road accidents, highlighting a significant public safety concern that demands urgent attention and effective intervention measures.

P24 News Media

December 15, 2024

1 minute

Tragic Toll: 7.77 Lakh Lives Lost in Road Accidents Over Five Years - A State-by-State Breakdown

India

According to a recent report from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu have emerged as the states with the highest incidence of road accidents over the past five years. This alarming trend is underscored by the staggering figure of more than 777,000 fatalities due to road incidents across India during the 2018-2022 timeframe. The findings, derived from data collected from numerous states and Union Territories, reveal an unsettling escalation in road fatalities in the country.

In 2022, the total number of fatalities from road accidents reached 168,491, marking a significant rise from the previous year's toll of 153,972. This data was disclosed on Wednesday as part of the comprehensive report titled ‘Road Accidents in India, 2022’. Notably, Uttar Pradesh led the nation with a woeful count of 22,595 deaths due to road accidents in the same year, while Maharashtra recorded 15,224 deaths, and Tamil Nadu reported 17,884 fatalities. Collectively, these states represent a major share of the nationwide toll, with a variety of factors contributing to these grim statistics, such as speeding, the misuse of mobile phones while driving, drunk driving, and general driver negligence.

The report lists the ten states with the highest accident fatalities over the five-year period from 2018 to 2022: Uttar Pradesh with 108,882 deaths, Tamil Nadu with 84,316, Maharashtra with 66,370, Madhya Pradesh with 58,580, Karnataka with 53,448, Rajasthan with 51,280, Andhra Pradesh with 39,058, Bihar with 36,191, Telangana with 35,565, and Gujarat with 36,626 deaths respectively. These figures highlight the urgent need for significant action to enhance road safety in these regions.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari expressed his discomfort and embarrassment during international conferences focused on road accidents, noting that he often feels compelled to "hide his face." He acknowledged that while there is a goal to reduce road accidents by 50 percent, the reality is that incidents have, unfortunately, increased across the country. Mr. Gadkari emphasized the necessity for a transformation in human behavior and societal attitudes, underlining the importance of fostering respect for the law to enhance overall road safety.

In response to the rising toll, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has implemented a variety of initiatives aimed at improving road safety through education, better engineering, stringent enforcement, and enhanced emergency care. Among the proactive measures are tougher penalties under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act of 2019 and the deployment of technology, such as electronic challans, to effectively address traffic violations. Since 2020, over 2.3 billion e-challans have been issued, totaling more than ₹36,700 crore.

Furthermore, the government has mandated road safety audits for National Highway projects, ensuring that road safety protocols are incorporated from the initial design stage to ongoing maintenance efforts. Collaboratively, state governments and the central authorities have been striving to raise awareness and improve infrastructure through various initiatives, including the establishment of Model Driving Training Institutes and the enhancement of public transportation systems. Such concerted efforts are essential to curbing the alarming rates of road fatalities and fostering a culture of compliance with traffic regulations.