15.3 lakh dead in road crashes in the last decade; India’s road safety crisis deepens

India has witnessed a concerning rise in road fatalities, with a total of 15.3 lakh deaths reported between 2014 and 2023, according to the Union Ministry of Road Transport. This figure is comparable to the population of cities like Chandigarh and Bhubaneswar. Despite advancements in road infrastructure, vehicle numbers, and technology, road safety remains a critical issue. The number of vehicles in India has surged from 15.9 crore in 2012 to over 38 crore by 2024. Similarly, the road network expanded from 48.6 lakh kilometers in 2012 to approximately 63.3 lakh kilometers by 2019. However, this growth has not been accompanied by a proportional reduction in fatalities, with India’s fatality rate standing at 250 deaths per 10,000 kilometers of road, significantly higher than countries like the United States, China, and Australia.

The country’s increasing road fatalities can be attributed to systemic issues in traffic enforcement and road safety regulation. While vehicle numbers have risen, traffic safety rules are poorly enforced. Road fatalities often fail to receive the urgency that other criminal cases do. A former senior police officer noted that road deaths are not treated with the same level of priority as other serious crimes like murder, leading to slower responses and insufficient safety measures. This lack of timely enforcement contributes to the escalating death toll on Indian roads.

In 2019, the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act was introduced with the goal of improving road safety. The law included provisions for stricter penalties for traffic violations and death caused by negligence, as well as the creation of a National Road Safety Board. However, the implementation of this board has been delayed, and the penalties for negligent driving that leads to fatalities are still considered inadequate by many. The law’s ability to bring about meaningful change has been hindered by slow execution and a lack of coordination between agencies responsible for enforcement.

Despite the enactment of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, the country continues to experience a high number of road accidents. One of the latest incidents involved a fatal collision in Dehradun that resulted in six deaths. Such accidents expose the gaps in both traffic management and public awareness. Calls for better enforcement of road safety measures have intensified, with experts urging authorities to take immediate action to address the growing crisis. There is a mounting public demand for faster reforms to reduce fatalities and prevent further tragedies.

Key data reveals the critical state of road safety in India:

    •    Between 2014 and 2023, 15.3 lakh fatalities occurred.
    •    Vehicle registrations have increased to over 38 crore by 2024.
    •    The country’s road length has expanded to 63.3 lakh kilometers by 2019.
    •    The fatality rate remains high at 250 deaths per 10,000 kilometers of road, much higher than global averages.