Vehicle escapes Lutyens’ security, sparks concerns

New Delhi: Commercial heavy vehicles are a menace on the capital’s roads, though their speed seems largely under control in high-security areas of Lutyens’ Delhi, where fatal accidents or hit-and-runs involving such vehicles have been rare.

That a trucker managed to speed off after mowing down two people on central Delhi’s Ashoka Road on Monday raises questions about the effectiveness of police patrolling and night-time checking in the area, signalling a potential gap in the security apparatus.

Cops agreed that the disciplined traffic in the area, bolstered by a constant police presence and strategic checkpoints, acts as a reliable deterrent against reckless driving often seen in other parts of Delhi. Monday’s accident is particularly concerning given the proximity of the spot to sensitive installations, including Delhi Police’s headquarters, where surveillance is expected to be extremely tight.

Police officers said on Tuesday that they had stepped up patrolling in the area following the accident, and barricades and check posts set up at night are being reviewed.

According to data, 50,776 heavy transport vehicles were prosecuted for various traffic offences in 2025, an increase of over 16% from 43,589 challans issued the year before. Separate data on road fatalities shows that till March 15, 2026, 129 lives were lost in hit-and-run cases this year, compared with 143 during the same period in 2025,

Road safety experts said the absence of proper lane discipline is a major factor behind such accidents. Anil Chhikara, former deputy transport commissioner of Delhi, said that without dedicated and properly marked lanes, all types of vehicles, whether large or small, are forced to move on the same carriageway, increasing the risk of collisions. This also creates chaotic traffic conditions, during which maintaining safe distance becomes difficult, he added.

“For those driving heavy vehicles, there is also a significant problem with blind spots. They are often unable to clearly spot two-wheelers, cyclists and pedestrians from their elevated seating position and through mirrors,” Chhikara said.

Monday’s accident is similar to another reported earlier this month, in which a 27-year-old man was arrested for allegedly driving a truck that rammed six vehicles in central Delhi’s Anand Parbat area. It resulted in the death of a 65-year-old man and caused considerable panic among commuters and bystanders.

In another accident this Feb, a 19-year-old student was killed and another critically injured after a truck hit their scooter near Modi Mill Flyover on southeast Delhi’s Mathura Road.