Daily road deaths touched 485 in 2024 even as NH fatalities dipped

NEW DELHI: On an average, 485 radical died successful roadworthy crashes each time successful 2024, with full fatalities reaching 1.77 lakh, according to roadworthy transport ministry told Lok Sabha connected Thursday.

National Highways (NHs), which relationship for hardly 2% of India’s roadworthy network, recorded 54,443 fatalities (31%), the lowest stock successful past 4 years.The full fig of deaths past twelvemonth was 2.3% higher than successful 2023, erstwhile 1.73 lakh radical were killed successful roadworthy crashes. TOI had reported connected Nov 5 connected the inclination for the year, which suggested that fatalities successful 2024 would transcend those successful the erstwhile year.In a written reply to a question from DMK’s A Raja, Union roadworthy transport curate Nitin Gadkari said, “As per accusation received from states/UTs, full fig of roadworthy mishap fatalities reported successful the state connected each class of roads during 2024 were 1,77,177, which includes information successful respect of Bengal taken from physics elaborate mishap study (eDAR) portal.”

Govt has rolled retired eDAR strategy for real-time postulation of data. Sources said acquisition shows eDAR information are mostly correct, though determination is scope for insignificant corrections, and hence determination whitethorn beryllium a flimsy summation successful the fig of deaths erstwhile the yearly study of accidents is published.Data connected crashes and fatalities connected NHs, besides submitted to Lok Sabha, amusement that accidents connected these stretches person decreased — from 1.52 lakh successful 2022 to 1.29 lakh — and fatalities person dropped from 56,007 successful 2021 to conscionable implicit 54,000.

UP has reported important diminution successful deaths connected NHs, from 8,446 successful 2023 to 5,524 past year. Officials said portion this is simply a affirmative indicator, greater effort is needed to trim fatalities connected NHs and authorities highways, which person little web magnitude comparatively but relationship for astir 55% of deaths.“We are improving roads, technologies and vehicles, but determination is simply a deficiency of acquisition among each categories of roadworthy users.

This indispensable beryllium addressed done awareness, information and enforcement,” said Manoj Bhatt, erstwhile DGP of Rajasthan.Experts said govt indispensable impact civilian nine and a larger excavation of non-government entities for large-scale consciousness campaigns, alternatively than relying connected lone a fewer organisations, fixed the magnitude of the crisis.Meanwhile, govt is roping successful IIT-Kanpur to usage AI for mapping and scientifically analysing high-risk spots connected NHs, officials said.

They added that this volition assistance place causes of predominant crashes astatine circumstantial locations, enabling targeted interventions.The roadworthy transport ministry besides plans to amend Motor Vehicles Act by introducing stricter norms for issuing driving licences and a negative-points strategy for unsafe driving that could effect successful suspension oregon cancellation of licences.