43 delivery agents involved in accidents in Chennai in 2025, of which there were 4 deaths, say cops at safety awareness drive for women gig workers

Chennai: As many as 43 accidents involving delivery personnel were recorded in the city in 2025, leaving four dead, said the Greater Chennai Traffic Police (GCTP) on Wednesday. They said overspeeding, mobile phone use while driving, signal jumping, and rash driving were the key causes.The data was shared at a road safety awareness programme organised by the GCTP in Vepery on Wednesday. The event was attended by women delivery executives and women bike taxi riders. Officers urged delivery workers to strictly follow traffic rules, including wearing helmets, adhering to speed limits and maintaining lane discipline.
Additional commissioner of police, GCTP, G Karthikeyan, who distributed helmets at the event, said a majority of accident victims in the city last year were two-wheeler riders, many of whom were not wearing helmets. He said that even among those who wore helmets, some fatalities occurred because the straps were not fastened properly, causing the helmet to come off during impact. He cautioned riders against wearing helmets only near police checkpoints and advised delivery workers not to rush to complete more deliveries for higher earnings at the cost of safety. "Traffic laws are meant for public welfare and must be followed at all times," he said.Joint commissioner of police (traffic south) P Vijayakumar said that 18 lakh traffic challans were issued in 2025, including 2.8 lakh for riding without helmets. Highlighting national statistics, he said 485 people die in road accidents across India every day — nearly 20 every hour. In Tamil Nadu, two people die every hour and 51 lose their lives daily in road accidents. He said that while 536 people died in 2024, the figure came down to 496 in 2025, marking a decline of around 40 deaths. "Tamil Nadu has the highest percentage of women in the employment market in India at 42%, compared to 20–22% in other states. Every employee who leaves home for work must return safely, and the GCTP is taking multiple measures to prevent accidents," he said.