The number of fatalities from road accidents in India rose to 177,177 in 2024, according to data presented by the Union government in Parliament on Thursday. This marked a 2.5% increase from 172,890 deaths recorded in 2023, translating to an alarming average of approximately 485 deaths every day across the country.

The figures, shared by Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari in response to a question from Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP A. Raja, underscore a persistent and growing challenge for India’s road safety ecosystem. Despite ambitious infrastructure expansion and policies aimed at reducing traffic casualties, India continues to grapple with a rising toll of road crash fatalities, driven by a combination of speeding, faulty road engineering, and uneven enforcement of safety regulations.

Expert Analysis: India’s Road Safety Landscape

Experts note that the rising number of road crash deaths is consistent with trends historically observed in many developed countries during their periods of rapid motorization. Dr. S. Velmurugan, chief scientist and head of the traffic engineering and safety division at the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), explained that India has not yet reached the plateau that several developed nations experienced in the late 1990s. In those countries, fatalities stabilized and eventually declined after peak vehicle ownership and highway expansion were achieved. In contrast, India continues to witness a surge in vehicle numbers, coupled with rapid highway construction, without the full implementation of corresponding safety measures.

“The latest rise in road fatalities is not surprising because India has still not reached the saturation point that many developed countries hit in the late 1990s, where numbers plateaued and then steadily dipped. In contrast, India continues to see a boom in vehicle ownership and rapid highway construction, but the safety standards meant to accompany this growth are not being implemented fully on the ground,” Dr. Velmurugan said.

India’s infrastructure expansion is impressive by global standards. National highways are reportedly being built at speeds of up to 40 kilometers per day. However, Dr. Velmurugan emphasized that these infrastructural achievements are undermined by inconsistent delivery of safety features. “We are building roads at impressive speeds, but the safety features expected on paper are not consistently delivered by field-level agencies,” he said.

Key Contributors to Road Accidents

According to traffic safety experts, speeding and poorly designed road infrastructure are among the primary contributors to India’s crash burden. In particular, highways passing through populated areas often lack basic pedestrian facilities, increasing the risk of collisions. Dr. Velmurugan highlighted the importance of systemic and rigorous enforcement, suggesting that isolated measures such as a single speed camera are insufficient. Drivers may slow down temporarily when they notice enforcement signage, but this behavior change is often short-lived.

“To change driver behavior effectively, we need continuous monitoring. Sectional speed enforcement, such as monitoring the time taken to travel between toll plazas, should become standard. If a vehicle covers that stretch suspiciously fast, immediate penal action must follow. Only then will behavior change,” he said, underscoring the need for a more sophisticated and consistent approach to traffic law enforcement.

India’s Global Road Safety Commitments

Gadkari also cited India’s commitment to the Stockholm Declaration on Road Safety, adopted at the third Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in February 2020. The declaration set a target to halve road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030, and India is among its signatories. Achieving this ambitious goal will require not only infrastructural improvements but also strict enforcement, public awareness campaigns, and investments in emergency response and healthcare systems for accident victims.

India’s road fatality rate, Gadkari noted, stands at 11.89 per lakh population, which is higher than China’s 4.3 but slightly lower than the United States’ 12.76, according to the World Road Statistics, 2024. These figures highlight the magnitude of the challenge India faces in aligning its road safety outcomes with global benchmarks while managing rapid motorization and urbanization.

Support for Accident Survivors

Addressing the issue of post-accident care, Gadkari highlighted the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, under which a total of 5,480 road crash survivors were found eligible for cashless treatment in 2025. This initiative is part of the broader Cashless Treatment for Road Accident Victims Scheme, which aims to provide timely medical care without financial burden to victims of road accidents.

The scheme has seen significant expansion, with 32,557 hospitals across 36 states and union territories now empaneled to provide treatment under the program. By streamlining access to emergency care, the government hopes to reduce fatalities and long-term disabilities resulting from road crashes, complementing preventive measures such as better road design and traffic enforcement.

Challenges and Recommendations

Despite policy measures and awareness initiatives, India continues to face challenges in curbing road crash fatalities. Experts stress that rapid urbanization and the proliferation of vehicles have outpaced the development and implementation of safety infrastructure. This includes road markings, pedestrian crossings, proper signage, crash barriers, and speed management systems.

Moreover, the enforcement of traffic laws remains uneven. While certain highways feature modern monitoring systems, many stretches lack even basic surveillance. Experts argue for a comprehensive national approach combining technology, regulation, and public education. Innovations such as automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), widespread camera enforcement, and real-time monitoring of highway speeds are considered essential for addressing reckless driving and reducing collisions.

Public awareness campaigns are equally critical. Road users, including drivers, pedestrians, and two-wheeler riders, must be educated on traffic rules, speed limits, and safe driving practices. Studies show that behavioral interventions, when combined with engineering and enforcement measures, can significantly reduce road crash fatalities.

Looking Ahead

The upward trend in fatalities highlights the urgency of India’s road safety challenge. With nearly 485 people dying every day in road accidents in 2024, the need for multi-pronged solutions is clear. Coordinated efforts involving infrastructure development, rigorous enforcement, public awareness, and emergency care are essential to meet the targets set under global commitments such as the Stockholm Declaration.

Minister Gadkari’s statements and the expert analysis from CRRI indicate that India is aware of these challenges and is taking steps to address them. However, achieving substantial reductions in road fatalities will require sustained efforts at the national, state, and local levels. It will also require a cultural shift in driving behavior, greater investment in safe road design, and technological upgrades to ensure continuous monitoring and enforcement.

In conclusion, India’s road safety landscape in 2024 reflects both progress and persistent gaps. While infrastructure development and government schemes such as cashless treatment for accident victims represent significant steps forward, the continuing rise in fatalities underscores the need for systematic enforcement, improved road engineering, and comprehensive public awareness campaigns. The next decade will be crucial in determining whether India can achieve the ambitious goal of halving road traffic deaths by 2030 and ensure safer mobility for its rapidly growing population.