In a shocking revelation by the World Road Statistics 2022, Venezuela has emerged as the leader in a race no one wants to win, boasting the highest rate of road accident fatalities at a staggering 39.4 individuals per 100,000 population. This alarming statistic overshadows India’s rate, which stands at 9.5 per 100,000, highlighting a global concern over road safety.
The reasons behind these harrowing numbers are as varied as they are preventable, ranging from the all-too-common over speeding and distracted driving due to mobile phone use, to the more egregious offenses of drunken driving and lane indiscipline. Other contributing factors include ignoring traffic signals, eschewing safety gear like helmets and seat belts, and conditions of the vehicle, weather, roads, and human error involving drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike.
In response to this crisis, the Central Government has crafted regulations under the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, although the responsibility for enforcing these lifesaving rules falls upon the shoulders of State Governments and UT Administrations. Data collected from Police Departments across States and UTs has been compiled into the 2022 Report on Road Accidents in India, revealing a silver lining as Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, and the Union Territory of Lakshadweep reported fewer road mishaps in 2022 compared to the previous year.
This crucial update was shared by the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, casting a spotlight on the dire need for improved road safety and the collective effort required to prevent future tragedies on the road.
The number of road accident fatalities in the country during last ten years are as under:-
| Year | No. of Fatalities | No. of fatalities per 10,000 vehicles | ||
| 2013 | 1,37,572 | 7.6 | ||
| 2014 | 1,39,671 | 7.3 | ||
| 2015 | 1,46,555 | 7.0 | ||
| 2016 | 1,51,192 | 6.6 | ||
| 2017 | 1,50,003 | 5.9 | ||
| 2018 | 1,57,593 | 5.8 | ||
| 2019 | 1,58,984 | 5.4 | ||
| 2020* | 1,38,383 | 4.2 | ||
| 2021* | 1,53,972 | 4.3 | ||
| 2022 | 1,68,491 | 4.3 | ||
As per the Report, total number of road accidents in States/UTs (All over India) and 50 cities (Million Plus Cities) for the calendar year 2018 to 2022 are given below : –
| Year | States/UTs (All over India) | 50 cities (Million Plus cities) |
| 2018 | 470403 | 85318 |
| 2019 | 456959 | 82781 |
| 2020* | 372181 | 58736 |
| 2021* | 412432 | 67301 |
| 2022 | 461312 | 76752 |
*Covid affected years
