New Delhi: India recorded the highest number of road accident deaths in the world in 2022, with 168,491 people killed, according to a new report by the country’s transport ministry.
The fatalities represent an increase of 9.4% on the previous year, and seven out of every 10 deaths were due to speeding.
The report also found that road accidents injured 443,000 people in India in 2022, and the number of accidents rose by 11.9%.
The southern state of Tamil Nadu accounted for the highest number of accidents, followed by the central state of Madhya Pradesh.
The report said that India managed to buck the trend momentarily in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, and there was an “unprecedented decrease” in accidents and deaths.
However, the numbers picked up again in 2021 and 2022. The transport ministry said it is making efforts to curb the problem, such as improving the design of roads, increasing surveillance on highways, and imposing “stiff penalties” for traffic violations.
However, Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that government intervention will not be enough unless citizens start following traffic rules more seriously.
“In Jammu and Kashmir, we have successfully completed the construction of the Ramban Viaduct, a remarkable feast spanning a length of 1.08 kilometers with 4 lanes. The project, built at a cost of Rs. 328 crores, is situated on the Udhampur-Rmaban section of National Highway 44”, wrote Nitin Gadkari on X.
“Embracing the visionary leadership of PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji, we stand dedicated to providing Jammu and Kashmir with a superlative highway infrastructure. This monumental achievement not only propels regional economic prosperity but also arguments its allure as a top-tier tourist haven”, further added the Minister of Road Transport,
A World Bank study shows that road crashes are estimated to cost the Indian economy between 5-7% of GDP a year.
More than half of the victims are pedestrians, cyclists, or motorcyclists, and almost 84% of all fatalities are among road users between the working ages of 18-60 years.
The report’s findings are a stark reminder of the dangers of India’s roads. The government and citizens need to work together to address the problem and make the country’s roads safer for everyone.