The number of road accident fatalities in India has risen to 1.77 lakh in 2024, resulting in approximately 485 deaths every day. This was revealed in a statement made by Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. The figure represents a 2.3% increase compared to the 1.73 lakh deaths recorded in 2023.

Gadkari addressed the Lok Sabha on Thursday, providing data collected from States and Union Territories, including data from West Bengal taken from the eDAR portal. While the total number of accidents in 2024 was not shared, previous reports suggest approximately 4.73 lakh accidents occurred, excluding West Bengal.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is preparing new codes for ambulances and their drivers. These codes will focus on training paramedics to use advanced rescue equipment, such as cutters, which are currently lacking in many ambulances and delay rescue operations by up to three hours.

According to the World Road Statistics 2024, India's fatality rate per lakh population is 11.89, compared to 4.3 in China and 12.76 in the United States.

Gadkari has stated that the government has adopted a multi-pronged strategy based on the "4Es" - Education, Engineering, Enforcement, and Emergency Care to address road safety. Initiatives include improving road and vehicle engineering, increasing enforcement of traffic laws, raising public awareness, and providing better emergency medical services.

Several measures have been taken to improve road safety, including the implementation of 6 airbags in four-wheelers and electronic braking systems in two-wheelers, as well as increased penalties for traffic violations. Public awareness campaigns are also being conducted in 22 languages to reduce accidents.

Gadkari has stressed the importance of using advanced technology and AI to improve road safety. This includes AI-driven law enforcement and real-time monitoring of traffic violations. He has also called for collaboration with Indian startups and innovators in road safety technology.

The Stockholm Declaration on Road Safety, adopted in February 2020, sets a global target to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by 50% by 2030, and India is a signatory.

S Velmurugan, a chief scientist at the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), noted that the rise in road fatalities in India aligns with trends observed in developed countries in previous decades. He attributed the high number of crashes to speeding and faulty road engineering, emphasizing the need for stricter enforcement and improved infrastructure.

The government is promoting the use of the Electronic Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR) portal for real-time data collection.

Nitin Gadkari has also inaugurated a high-tech road safety center in Delhi. The Center for Advancement of Road Traffic Safety (CARTS) aims to monitor road safety projects across India and assist in identifying and solving issues that lead to road crashes.

While National Highways (NHs) account for a small percentage of India's road network, they recorded 54,443 fatalities in 2024, representing 31% of the total, which is the lowest share in the past four years. Uttar Pradesh has shown a significant decline in deaths on NHs.

Gadkari has acknowledged that road accidents are a significant social problem, costing the country 3% of its GDP. He is urging the public to follow traffic rules and drive safely.