NEW DELHI: Speed kills - and it claimed nearly 1.2 lakh lives in 2024, around 70% of all road deaths (1.8 lakh). Non-wearing of helmets and seatbelts caused 69,088 deaths (39%), showing how road users' behaviour remains the biggest challenge to making roads safer.
Crash and fatality details of past five years, submitted by road transport minister Nitin Gadkari in Rajya Sabha Wednesday, show speeding continues to dominate as the main cause of fatal accidents. Its share in deaths rose from 65% in 2020 to 69% in 2021 and a little over 71% in 2022. It dipped to 68% in 2023 but increased again last year.
Tamil Nadu reported the highest number of speed-related fatalities - 12,010 out of 24,118 road deaths. Karnataka saw nearly 92% of its 11,360 fatalities caused by speeding, while Madhya Pradesh recorded nearly 81% (11,970).
Globally too, speeding is a key factor. According to WHO, even a small rise in average speed sharply increases crash risk and severity. "Every 1% increase in mean speed produces a 4% increase in the fatal crash risk and a 3% increase in the serious crash risk. The risk of death for pedestrians hit by car fronts rises rapidly (4.5 times from 50 kmph to 65 kmph). In car-to-car side impacts, the fatality risk for occupants is 85% at 65 kmph," WHO states.
Govt data showed a slight dip in deaths due to non-wearing of helmets and seatbelts - 69,088 in 2024 compared with 70,518 in 2023.
Tamil Nadu again topped in helmet-related deaths with 7,744 fatalities, followed by MP (6,541) and Maharashtra (5,946). Such deaths have declined in UP and Tamil Nadu but increased in Maharashtra, MP and Chhattisgarh.
For seatbelt-related deaths, UP recorded the highest number (2,816), followed by MP (1,929) and Maharashtra (1,427). These fatalities have fallen in UP, MP and Rajasthan but risen in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Telangana.
WHO notes that wearing a seatbelt can reduce the risk of occupants death by up to 50%.
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