New Delhi: Kapil Sharma, the lone survivor of a tragic road crash on September 27 in Gurugram, Haryana, doesn’t remember much about those fateful minutes inside the speeding Thar. “The SUV turned turtle, and when I woke up, I was in the hospital’s critical care unit,” he recalls faintly.
The crash claimed five young lives—Pratishtha Mishra, Lavanya Singh, Aditya Pratap Singh, Gautam Saini, and Aditi Soni. Less than two weeks later, another deadly collision on the Katra–Jammu Expressway left four youths dead after their car rammed into a road roller at a construction site. In both cases, speed and poor road conditions were silent killers.
Despite such tragedies, new data offers a glimmer of hope. Road crash deaths in Delhi have declined by 2.5% till September 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to data shared by the city’s traffic department. Fatal crashes have also dipped by 2.9%.
Between January and September 2025, 1,149 people lost their lives in road crashes in Delhi—down from 1,178 during the same period in 2024. Fatal crashes decreased from 1,148 to 1,115.
India’s roads continue to tell a grim story of speed, chaos, and loss. Despite improvements in infrastructure and stricter enforcement, the numbers from 2022 reveal that five states—Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka—account for a significant chunk of the country’s road crashes.
Tamil Nadu emerged once again as the state with the highest number of accidents, recording 64,105 incidents, which alone made up 13.9% of all road crashes in the country. Following closely was Madhya Pradesh with 54,432 accidents (11.8%), while Uttar Pradesh stood third with 41,746 cases (9%).
However, when it comes to lives lost, the picture takes a tragic turn. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of road fatalities in 2022—22,595 deaths, accounting for 13.4% of total fatalities across India. Tamil Nadu, despite leading in the number of crashes, reported 17,884 deaths (10.6%), while Maharashtra followed with 15,224 fatalities (9%).
The data also sheds light on the severity of accidents—how deadly they are when they occur. In 2023, Uttar Pradesh reported a severity rate of 53.1, meaning more than 53 people were killed for every 100 accidents. In contrast, Tamil Nadu’s severity stood at 27.3, showing that although the southern state witnesses more accidents, they tend to be less fatal compared to the northern state.
Experts say the contrast highlights the regional variations in road safety measures, emergency response, and driver behavior. While Tamil Nadu has focused on quicker medical assistance and highway patrolling, states like Uttar Pradesh continue to grapple with enforcement challenge, risky driving, and poor road discipline.
Over-speeding remained the leading cause of road fatalities in India, accounting for 68.1% of deaths in 2023 and 72.4% of total accidents in 2022. Experts say drunk and distracted driving continue to impair judgment and reaction time, significantly increasing the risk of crashes.
Adding to the danger are poor road conditions—from potholes and inadequate lighting to missing or improper signage. Weak enforcement of traffic laws further fuels reckless driving, as many motorists flout rules without fear of consequences.
Meanwhile, vehicles with inadequate safety features, substandard engineering, and outdated technology exacerbate the severity of crashes. A general lack of awareness about safety features among drivers only worsens the situation.
Alarmingly, young men aged 18–34 remain the most vulnerable group in road mishaps, while pedestrians and two-wheeler riders make up a significant share of the fatalities recorded each year.
Ajay Chaudhry, Special Commissioner of Police, Traffic Management Division Zone (II), Delhi
According to Ajay Chaudhry, Special Commissioner of Police, Traffic Management Division Zone (II), Delhi, “The continued reduction in road crash deaths is a result of implementing globally-tested, evidence-based road safety interventions. Fatal road crashes saw a steady decrease by 2.9% till September 2025.”
Chaudhry said the Delhi Traffic Police have adopted a multi-pronged, targeted approach—analyzing crashes, identifying high-risk zones, and recommending infrastructure changes that have directly contributed to saving lives.
The Crash Research Cell of the Delhi Traffic Police studies road deaths in detail, identifying patterns, time zones, and causes that make certain locations deadlier than others. These high-risk sites—commonly known as blackspots—are flagged for engineering audits and remedial measures.
Interestingly, the Accident Report in Delhi has been renamed as the Delhi Road Crash Report—a conscious move to replace the word accident with crash. The rationale is clear: to emphasize that such incidents are preventable, not unavoidable.
“This change has empowered the government to be more proactive in saving lives through evidence-based and targeted interventions,” added Chaudhry. “The continued reduction in road crash deaths is a direct result of targeting risk factors and recommending life-saving measures at high-risk locations.”
This year, authorities have identified 143 dangerous locations across the National Capital Territory of Delhi where corrective actions—such as safer road design, new signages, and surface repairs—are being implemented to make commuting safer for all road users.
The Delhi Traffic Police are also working closely with District Road Safety Committees (DRSCs) and the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety, ensuring district-specific improvements are carried out.
To make roads safer near sensitive areas, speed calming measures have been deployed at over 30 identified locations around schools, colleges, and hospitals. More than 3,600 traffic personnel have undergone specialized training in speed management and road safety techniques under the guidance of road safety experts and data analysts.
Public health experts warn that even with progress, Delhi’s roads remain among the most dangerous in the world. India alone accounts for nearly 11% of global road fatalities, and traffic injuries remain a leading cause of death among people aged 15–29, according to the World Health Organization.
Each crash, like the one that left Kapil Sharma fighting for his life, is a grim reminder that road safety is not just a law-and-order issue—it’s a public health emergency.
(Cover Photo Credit: Canva)
