NEWS

• Data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, tabled in the Lok Sabha, reveals 29,018 deaths on national highways (NHs) in the first six months of 2025 — over 50% of 2024’s total fatalities (53,090).
• National highways make up only 2% of India’s road network but account for 30%+ of total road accident deaths.

HIGHLIGHTS

Accident Statistics

• 2025 (Jan–Jun): 67,933 accidents, 29,018 deaths.
• 2024: 1,25,873 accidents, 53,090 deaths.
• 2023: 1,23,955 accidents, 53,630 deaths.
• Data sourced from Electronic Detailed Accident Report (eDAR) portal.
• Total road accident deaths in 2023: 1.72 lakh.
• Target: Halve road accident deaths by 2030 (UN road safety goal).

Key Causes

• Road engineering flaws (identified as major factor).
• Driver negligence, speeding, poor enforcement, lack of seatbelt/helmet use.
• Economic factors: low affordability of safety features like airbags.
• Motorization linked with income growth in developing countries (Kopits-Kropper hypothesis) — India may not see decline in fatalities before 2042 if trends continue.

Government Response

Short-term measures:

• Road markings, signage, crash barriers, raised markers.

Long-term measures:

• Geometric improvements, junction redesigns, road widening, under/overpasses.

International & National Commitments

• Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety (2015): Reduce road traffic deaths by 50% by 2030.
• India’s Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety oversees enforcement and compliance.

Significance for India

• Road safety is a public health, infrastructure, and economic issue.
• Reducing fatalities will save lives, improve productivity, and lower economic losses.
• Requires multi-sectoral approach: engineering, enforcement, education, emergency care.