Maharashtra records 8% drop in road fatalities in first three months of 2026; over 2 lakh booked for helmetless riding

Mumbai: Maharashtra recorded a 7% decline in fatal road crashes and an 8% drop in fatalities in the first three months of 2026 compared with the same period last year, according to transport department data released on Saturday. More than 2 lakh riders were caught travelling without helmets during the three-month period. Officials said the improvement came alongside intensified enforcement across the state, though violations such as riding without helmets remained alarmingly high.Between January and March, fatal crashes fell by 284 cases, while the number of deaths dropped by 321, additional transport commissioner Bharat Kalaskar said. The total number of accidents also saw a marginal decline, from 9,384 in January-March 2025 to 9,259 in the corresponding period this year.Authorities also registered 15,664 cases of speeding, booked 4,926 motorists for triple-seat riding on two-wheelers, and prosecuted 12,883 drivers for not wearing seat belts.District-wise, Washim recorded the sharpest fall in road fatalities at 48%, followed by Beed at 33% and Nanded at 30%.Transport department officials attributed the decline in deaths to sustained enforcement drives, preventive measures and deployment of interceptor vehicles on highways. "The enforcement by our special squads and interceptor vehicles on highways has helped bring down fatalities to a greater extent in the past few years. We plan to reduce both crashes and deaths further in 2026," an official said.Another official said stricter penalties and targeted action also helped curb the road death rate on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and across the state.
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