Alarming rise in case of road accidents due to over speeding as per the government report for 2022
By Kumar Vikram
New Delhi, October 31: Startling statistics from the report “Road Accidents in India-2022” have laid bare the sobering reality of road safety in India, with ‘over speeding’ emerging as the leading cause of accidents and deaths on the nation’s highways. The report underscores that ‘over speeding kills,’ and despite ongoing efforts to enhance road safety, many motorists continue to disregard safety rules, especially on highways.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has published its annual report based on data received from police departments across the country, collected on a calendar-year basis.
In 2022, the report reveals that a staggering 72.4 percent of accidents and 75.2 percent of deaths were attributed to ‘over speeding.’ This alarming statistic highlights the magnitude of the issue and calls for immediate attention.
As per the report, a total of 4,61,312 road accidents have been reported by States and Union Territories (UTs) during the calendar year 2022, which claimed 1,68,491 lives and caused injuries to 4,43,366 persons. This marks an increase of 11.9% in accidents, 9.4% in fatalities, and 15.3% in injuries compared to the previous year.
While ‘over speeding’ stood out as the primary cause, the report also noted an increase in other major traffic rule violations, such as ‘drunken driving/consumption of alcohol and drugs,’ ‘jumping red lights,’ ‘driving on the wrong side,’ and ‘use of mobile phones.’ These infractions all registered an increase in 2022 compared to the previous year, exacerbating the road safety crisis.
The report emphasizes the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to address the contributing factors to these accidents. These factors include speeding, reckless driving, drunken driving, and non-compliance with traffic regulations. The Ministry underscores the importance of strengthening enforcement mechanisms, enhancing driver education and training programs, and investing in the improvement of road conditions and vehicle safety standards.
The Ministry is unwavering in its commitment to implementing robust measures to curb the rising number of road accidents. Their approach encompasses road user behavior, road infrastructure, vehicle standards, and the enforcement of traffic regulations. In recognition of the multi-causal nature of road accidents, the Ministry has formulated a multi-pronged strategy, focusing on all four Es: Education, Engineering (both roads and vehicles), Enforcement, and Emergency Care.
As the data clearly indicates, ‘over speeding’ is a menace on Indian roads, responsible for a significant number of accidents and deaths. It is vital for both the government and citizens to recognize that over speeding not only jeopardizes lives but also contributes to the rising number of road accidents. Only by addressing this issue head-on can India’s roads become safer for everyone. Road safety is a shared responsibility, and it is time for everyone to slow down and obey traffic rules for the well-being of all.
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