The Supreme Court observed that India lacks a proper culture of lane driving, which it described as one of the major causes of road accidents in the country. A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Vishwanathan made the remarks while hearing a road safety matter. The court noted that it has been issuing directions on road safety from time to time.
The bench also raised concerns over poor implementation of rules mandating vehicle tracking systems and panic buttons in public transport vehicles. Despite these requirements being compulsory, the court observed that less than one percent of vehicles across the country currently have such safety devices installed. It directed all states to ensure timely installation of tracking devices and emergency panic buttons in both new and existing public vehicles.
Road accidents continue to claim a massive number of lives in India. On average, 546 people die in traffic accidents every day. According to NCRB data, around 1.99 lakh people lost their lives in road accidents in 2024, slightly higher than the 1.98 lakh deaths recorded in 2023.
The evening hours were found to be the most dangerous period for road travel. Around 20.4 percent of accidents occurred between 6 pm and 9 pm, while 17.1 percent took place between 3 pm and 6 pm.
Road accidents also impose a heavy economic burden, with their social and economic cost estimated at nearly 3.14 percent of India’s GDP.
Two-wheelers accounted for the highest number of fatal accidents, contributing to 48.3 percent of total deaths. Pedestrian fatalities made up 14.7 percent, while car accidents accounted for 13.6 percent.
May recorded the highest number of accidents during the year. Rural areas accounted for 59.7 percent of total accidents, whereas 40.3 percent were reported in urban regions.
