The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has reported a staggering 7.77 lakh fatalities due to road accidents across India between 2018 and 2022.
The findings, presented in the ‘Road Accidents in India, 2022’ report, reveal a troubling rise in deaths, which increased from 1,53,972 in 2021 to 1,68,491 in 2022.
States such as Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra lead in accident fatalities. Uttar Pradesh alone accounted for 22,595 deaths in 2022, followed by Tamil Nadu with 17,884, and Maharashtra with 15,224 deaths.
The Ministry attributes the majority of accidents to speeding, mobile phone usage, drunken driving, and indiscipline among drivers.
Over five years, Uttar Pradesh reported 1,08,882 deaths, followed by Tamil Nadu with 84,316, and Maharashtra with 66,370. Other states with significant casualties include Madhya Pradesh (58,580), Karnataka (53,448), Rajasthan (51,280), and Gujarat (36,626).
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, expressed deep concern. "I feel embarrassed attending international conferences on road accidents," he remarked.
"I have to hide my face." Gadkari admitted the government had failed to achieve its target of halving road accidents and called for a societal shift. "We must inculcate respect for the rule of law to improve road safety," he said.
Top states for accident fatalities (2018–2022)
- Uttar Pradesh: 1,08,882 deaths
- Tamil Nadu: 84,316 deaths
- Maharashtra: 66,370 deaths
- Madhya Pradesh: 58,580 deaths
- Karnataka: 53,448 deaths
- Rajasthan: 51,280 deaths
- Andhra Pradesh: 39,058 deaths
- Gujarat: 36,626 deaths
- Bihar: 36,191 deaths
- Telangana: 35,565 deaths
Efforts to curb the crisis
The Ministry has introduced multiple measures, focusing on education, engineering, enforcement, and emergency care. Stricter penalties under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, aim to deter traffic violations.
E-challan systems, issuing over 23 crore challans worth ₹36,700 crore since 2020, have improved enforcement.
Road safety audits are now mandatory for all National Highway projects, ensuring safer designs and maintenance. State and central governments are also enhancing public awareness and improving infrastructure under various schemes, including Model Driving Training Institutes.
Despite these initiatives, the rising figures underline the urgent need for behavioural change. Gadkari emphasised, “There is a need for change in human behaviour and societal norms.”
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