India’s Road Safety Crisis and Road Accidents 2023

02/12/2024

Road Accident Statistics in 2023

Fatalities: India continued to experience the highest number of road accident fatalities globally in 2023.
- Over 1.72 lakh people lost their lives in road crashes.
Total Accidents: There were more than 4.80 lakh accidents across the country in 2023, marking an increase of 4.2% from the previous year (2022), which had 4.61 lakh accidents.
Fatalities Increase: The fatality rate increased by 2.6% compared to 2022, when over 1.68 lakh fatalities occurred.
(Note: The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has not yet officially released the 2023 report on Road Crashes in India.)

Key Points from Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s Address

Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, highlighted several concerning aspects of road safety in India during a recent event on road safety in Lucknow:

Minors Involved in Fatal Accidents: Approximately 10,000 minors died in road accidents in 2023.
School Zones: There were 35,000 accidents and 10,000 deaths reported in areas near schools and colleges.
Pedestrian Deaths: 35,000 pedestrian fatalities were recorded.
Helmet & Seat Belt Issues:
- 54,000 deaths occurred due to individuals not wearing helmets.
- 16,000 deaths were linked to individuals not wearing seat belts.
Overloaded Vehicles: Around 12,000 fatalities were due to accidents caused by overloaded vehicles.
Driving Without Valid License: 34,000 accidents were due to people driving without a valid license.
Old Vehicles & Technology: Fatalities also resulted from the use of old vehicles with outdated technology, which hindered essential safety features like braking.

State-Level Insights: Uttar Pradesh’s Road Safety Situation

Uttar Pradesh (UP) was identified as the state with the highest number of road fatalities:
- 44,000 accidents occurred in UP, resulting in 23,650 deaths.
- Among these, 1,800 deaths were minors (under 18 years of age).
- 10,000 deaths were of pedestrians and two-wheeler users.
- 8,726 fatalities were due to overspeeding.

Key Reasons for Road Accidents:

Minister emphasized that road accidents in India are often caused by human error, a lack of adherence to traffic laws, and infrastructure deficiencies:

Human Behavior: The most significant cause of road accidents, according to Gadkari, is human behavior, including recklessness and disregard for the law.
Road Engineering Issues: Potholes, lack of underpasses, and inadequate foot-over bridges contribute to road safety problems. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is addressing black spots (accident-prone areas) by spending around Rs 40,000 crore to improve road safety features on National Highways.
State Roads and Governance: Although Gadkari is responsible for National Highways, the state governments manage state highways and district roads, which also require attention in addressing road safety concerns.

Initiatives to Improve Road Safety:

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has been implementing various schemes and initiatives to address the growing issue of road safety in India.

key initiatives across Education, Engineering, Vehicle Engineering, Enforcement, and Emergency Care.

1. Education Initiatives

To raise awareness and improve road safety knowledge, the Ministry has undertaken several educational initiatives:

Road Safety Advocacy Scheme: Provides financial assistance to agencies for conducting awareness campaigns and road safety programs.
National Road Safety Month/Week: The Ministry observes a National Road Safety Month/Week every year to promote road safety and educate the public.
Driving Training Institutes:
- The Ministry runs a scheme to establish Institutes of Driving Training & Research (IDTRs), Regional Driving Training Centres (RDTCs), and Driving Training Centres (DTCs) at state and district levels across the country.

2. Engineering Initiatives

To improve road infrastructure and reduce accidents, the Ministry has focused on engineering and road safety audits:

Road Safety Audit (RSA): Conducted by third-party auditors at every stage of road development — design, construction, operation, and maintenance — to ensure safety standards.
Black Spot Identification: High priority is given to identifying and rectifying black spots (accident-prone areas) on National Highways (NHs).
Road Safety Officer (RSO): Every Regional Office of road-owning agencies has appointed an RSO to oversee road safety audits and ensure the roadworthiness of National Highways, with biannual certification.
e-DAR Project: The Ministry runs the electronic Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR) Project, which establishes a central repository to manage and analyze road accident data.
Compliance with Standards: Provisions in the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 mandate compliance with road design, construction, and maintenance standards prescribed by the Central Government.

3. Vehicle Engineering Initiatives

The Ministry has introduced various measures to improve vehicle safety and reduce accidents:

Airbags for Front Passengers: Vehicles are now mandated to have airbags for the passenger seated next to the driver.
Child Safety Norms: Safety measures for children under four years riding on motorcycles include the use of safety harnesses and crash helmets, with a speed limit of 40 km/h.
Safety Technology Mandates for Vehicles:
- M1 Category Vehicles (Passenger Cars):
  - Seat Belt Reminder (SBR) for the driver and co-driver.
  - Manual Override for Central Locking System.
  - Over Speed Warning System.
- M and N Category Vehicles (Transport Vehicles):
  - Reverse Parking Alert System.
  - Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) for certain vehicles.
  - Speed Limiting Devices for all transport vehicles, except certain categories (e.g., fire tenders, ambulances).
Automated Testing Stations (ATS): The Ministry has published rules for Automated Testing Stations to provide automated vehicle fitness testing and issue fitness certificates.
Vehicle Scrapping Policy: A Vehicle Scrapping Policy has been introduced, offering incentives for scrapping old and unfit vehicles.
Bharat New Car Assessment Program (BNCAP): Introduces safety ratings for passenger cars, allowing consumers to make informed decisions.
Mandatory Air-Conditioning in Goods Vehicles: From October 1, 2025, all N2 and N3 category goods vehicles will be required to have an air-conditioning system in the cabin.

4. Enforcement Initiatives

Strict penalties and technological interventions are being implemented to enforce road safety rules:

Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019: The Act has enhanced penalties for traffic violations and introduces stricter enforcement of road safety laws.
Electronic Monitoring: The Ministry has issued rules for electronic monitoring of road safety, including the use of enforcement devices on high-risk corridors and critical junctions.

5. Emergency Care Initiatives

The Ministry has focused on improving emergency medical response and assistance for road accident victims:

Emergency Medical Facilities: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has established ambulance services at toll plazas with paramedical staff to assist accident victims on National Highways.
Cashless Treatment Program: A pilot project has been launched in Chandigarh and Assam, in collaboration with the National Health Authority (NHA), to provide cashless treatment for road accident victims.

Key Data and Analysis

Road Crash Severity: The severity rate (fatalities per 100 accidents) showed a slight improvement, decreasing from 36.5 in 2022 to 36 in 2023. However, this remains alarmingly high.
Overspeeding: The main cause of accidents remains overspeeding, responsible for 68.1% of the deaths in 2023.
Vulnerable Road Users:
1. Two-Wheeler Users: Accounted for 44.8% of road crash fatalities.
2. Pedestrians: Contributed to 20% of the total fatalities.

Daily and Hourly Road Accident Statistics for 2023

Daily Average: On average, India saw 1,317 road crashes and 474 fatalities every day.
Hourly Average: This equates to approximately 55 accidents and 20 deaths every hour.

Conclusion

The rising number of road accidents and fatalities in India is a grave concern, highlighting the need for more effective enforcement of road safety laws, improved infrastructure, and better public awareness. While efforts are being made, especially regarding road engineering and automobile safety, a significant shift in human behavior and adherence to traffic regulations is necessary to reduce these devastating statistics.