India’s road safety landscape is under intense scrutiny following the release of the 2022 Road Accidents in India Report, which highlights a concerning rise in fatalities. According to the report, road accident deaths climbed steadily over the past three years:
- 2020: 1,38,383 fatalities
- 2021: 1,53,972 fatalities
- 2022: 1,68,491 fatalities
The data paints a stark picture, with Uttar Pradesh recording the highest number of fatalities across all states from 2018 to 2022. India, which accounts for just 1% of the world’s vehicles, shockingly contributes 11% of global road crash deaths, as highlighted by a 2021 World Bank study.
Understanding the Causes
Road accidents in India stem from a variety of factors, including:
- Over-speeding
- Distracted driving, particularly mobile phone use
- Drunken driving
- Lane indiscipline and wrong-side driving
- Poor use of safety measures like helmets and seat belts
Driver-related faults accounted for an alarming 78% of accidents in 2022, underscoring the need for behavioral change and stricter enforcement.
Government’s Multi-Pronged Strategy
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has adopted the 4Es approach to enhance road safety: Education, Engineering, Enforcement, and Emergency Care. Here’s how these strategies are shaping India’s safety framework:
1. Education Initiatives
- Awareness Programs: Observing National Road Safety Month and supporting advocacy programs.
- Driving Training Institutes: Establishing state and district-level centers for professional driver training.
2. Engineering Solutions
- Road Engineering: Mandatory road safety audits for all National Highway projects at every stage.
- Accident Black Spots: Identification and rectification of accident-prone areas.
- Advanced Signage: Improved highway signage for better driver guidance.
- Vehicle Safety Enhancements: Policies mandating safety features such as airbags, anti-lock braking systems (ABS), and reverse parking alerts.
3. Enforcement Policies
The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 has introduced strict penalties for traffic violations, bolstered by advanced technologies:
- Over 23.92 crore e-challans issued, generating penalties worth ₹36,703.96 crore.
- Electronic monitoring and enforcement in high-risk zones.
4. Emergency Care Measures
- Support for Good Samaritans: Protection for individuals aiding accident victims.
- Enhanced Compensation: Financial aid for hit-and-run victims increased significantly.
- Cashless Treatment: A pilot program launched in six states/UTs provides accident victims with cashless medical care.
Road to Safer Highways
National Highways projects now allocate 2.21% to 15% of their budgets to road safety features, such as crash barriers and emergency services. Ambulances equipped with paramedics are stationed at toll plazas, ensuring immediate medical attention.
Future Roadmap
To address vehicle-related risks, the government is pushing for the adoption of its Vehicle Scrapping Policy, the Bharat NCAP safety ratings for cars, and advanced fitness testing at automated centers. Moreover, buses manufactured post-2025 will have air-conditioned driver cabins, prioritizing long-distance driver comfort.
A Call for Collective Responsibility
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari emphasized that road safety is a shared responsibility. With multi-faceted initiatives and stricter enforcement, India is striving to reverse the alarming trends. However, success hinges on greater public awareness, responsible driving, and robust technological interventions.
Road safety isn’t just about better infrastructure—it’s about saving lives, one initiative at a time.
As per the report published by Government on Road Accidents in India, 2022, based on data received from States/UTs, total number of road accident fatalities in all categories of roads in the country from calendar year 2018 to 2022 is given in the table below:-
| Year | Road Accident Fatalities |
| 2018 | 1,57,593 |
| 2019 | 1,58,984 |
| 2020* | 1,38,383 |
| 2021* | 1,53,972 |
| 2022 | 1,68,491 |
* – Covid affected years
| State-wise details of Road Accident Fatalities for the Calendar Year 2018-2022 | ||||||
| S. No. | States/UTs | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh | 7,556 | 7,984 | 7,039 | 8,186 | 8,293 |
| 2 | Arunachal Pradesh | 175 | 127 | 73 | 157 | 148 |
| 3 | Assam | 2,966 | 3,208 | 2,629 | 3,036 | 2,994 |
| 4 | Bihar | 6,729 | 7,205 | 6,699 | 7,660 | 8,898 |
| 5 | Chhattisgarh | 4,592 | 5,003 | 4,606 | 5,371 | 5,834 |
| 6 | Goa | 262 | 297 | 223 | 226 | 271 |
| 7 | Gujarat | 7,996 | 7,390 | 6,170 | 7,452 | 7,618 |
| 8 | Haryana | 5,118 | 5,057 | 4,507 | 4,706 | 4,915 |
| 9 | Himachal Pradesh | 1,208 | 1,146 | 893 | 1,052 | 1,032 |
| 10 | Jharkhand | 3,542 | 3,801 | 3,044 | 3,513 | 3,898 |
| 11 | Karnataka | 10,990 | 10,958 | 9,760 | 10,038 | 11,702 |
| 12 | Kerala | 4,303 | 4,440 | 2,979 | 3,429 | 4,317 |
| 13 | Madhya Pradesh | 10,706 | 11,249 | 11,141 | 12,057 | 13,427 |
| 14 | Maharashtra | 13,261 | 12,788 | 11,569 | 13,528 | 15,224 |
| 15 | Manipur | 134 | 156 | 127 | 110 | 127 |
| 16 | Meghalaya | 182 | 179 | 144 | 187 | 162 |
| 17 | Mizoram | 45 | 48 | 42 | 56 | 113 |
| 18 | Nagaland | 39 | 26 | 53 | 55 | 73 |
| 19 | Odisha | 5,315 | 5,333 | 4,738 | 5,081 | 5,467 |
| 20 | Punjab | 4,740 | 4,525 | 3,898 | 4,589 | 4,756 |
| 21 | Rajasthan | 10,320 | 10,563 | 9,250 | 10,043 | 11,104 |
| 22 | Sikkim | 85 | 73 | 47 | 56 | 92 |
| 23 | Tamil Nadu | 18,392 | 18,129 | 14,527 | 15,384 | 17,884 |
| 24 | Telangana | 6,603 | 6,964 | 6,882 | 7,557 | 7,559 |
| 25 | Tripura | 213 | 239 | 192 | 194 | 241 |
| 26 | Uttarakhand | 1,047 | 867 | 674 | 820 | 1,042 |
| 27 | Uttar Pradesh | 22,256 | 22,655 | 19,149 | 21,227 | 22,595 |
| 28 | West Bengal | 5,711 | 5,767 | 5,128 | 5,800 | 6,002 |
| 29 | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 19 | 20 | 14 | 20 | 19 |
| 30 | Chandigarh | 98 | 104 | 53 | 96 | 83 |
| 31 | Dadra & Nagar Haveli * | 54 | 49 | 64 | 76 | 90 |
| 32 | Daman & Diu | 35 | 28 | |||
| 33 | Delhi | 1,690 | 1,463 | 1,196 | 1,239 | 1,461 |
| 34 | Jammu & Kashmir $ | 984 | 996 | 728 | 774 | 805 |
| 35 | Ladakh | 56 | 62 | |||
| 36 | Lakshadweep | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 37 | Puducherry | 226 | 147 | 145 | 140 | 181 |
| Total (all India) | 1,57,593 | 1,58,984 | 1,38,383 | 1,53,972 | 1,68,491 | |
Note:
* Includes data of Daman & Diu for the Year 2020 to 2022.
$ Includes data of Ladakh for the Year 2018 to 2020.
The details of funds released by the Central Government during the last four Financial Years are as under:-
| Amount (Rs. in Crores) | |||||||||
| Sl. No. | Scheme | BE FY 2020-21 | Expendit ure inFY2020- 21 | BE FY 2021-22 | Expendi ture inFY 2021-22 | BE FY 2022-23 | Expen diture inFY 2022-23 | BEFY 2023– 24 | Expe nditu re inFY 2023-24 |
| 1 | Road Safety publicity measu res and awareness campaign s, NHARSS, refresher Train ing of Drivers in Unorganise d Sector and Human Resour ce Development, etc. | 171.00 | 65.94 | 109.00 | 41.48 | 189.50 | 68.67 | 138.00 | 86.33 |
| 2 | Inspection and Certification Centres (Revenue) | 29.00 | 16.20 | 29.00 | 14.15 | 33.00 | 14.60 | 24.00 | 17.00 |
| 3 | Improving and Strengthenin g of Public Transport Syste m | 89.00 | 30.60 | 103.00 | 10.80 | 15.00* | 30.33 | 50.00 | 38.00 |
*Rs.40.00 crore at RE Stage
