Over 6 Deaths Every Hour on National Highways: Gadkari Reveals Alarming Road Accident Data in Parliament

In a stark revelation, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari informed the Rajya Sabha that 26,770 people lost their lives in road accidents on India’s national highways in just the first six months of 2025. This translates to an average of more than six deaths every hour, underscoring the severity of road safety challenges in the country.

In 2024 alone, India recorded 52,609 fatal accidents on national highways, highlighting the urgent need for robust road safety infrastructure and public awareness. Road accidents continue to be a major public health crisis, causing widespread fatalities, injuries, and lifelong disabilities.

Advanced Traffic Systems to Curb Fatalities

To address this growing concern, Gadkari said that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) on several high-density expressways and corridors, including the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, Eastern Peripheral Expressway, Trans-Haryana Expressway, and the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.

These systems are equipped with electronic surveillance and incident detection technologies that allow for immediate identification of accidents or emergencies, enabling faster emergency response and timely relief. This real-time monitoring is expected to play a crucial role in saving lives and reducing the impact of accidents.

Road Safety Audits Cover Over 1.1 Lakh km

Gadkari also informed Parliament that road safety audits have been conducted for 1,12,561 kilometers of national highways over the past three years. These audits help identify accident-prone zones (black spots), assess road design, signage, lighting, and other critical safety features.

He mentioned that in new highway projects, especially those on high-speed and high-traffic routes, ATMS is being installed by default. For already constructed highways, separate ATMS installations are underway to upgrade existing infrastructure.

Two-Wheelers Most Affected by Accidents

Two-wheelers remain the most vulnerable segment in India’s road traffic ecosystem. According to official data, in 2022 alone, over 4.5 lakh road accidents were reported, leading to more than 1.5 lakh deaths. A significant portion of these fatalities involved motorcyclists and scooter riders, often due to over-speeding, not wearing helmets, and pedestrians crossing roads at non-designated points.

The government has acknowledged that such behaviors, combined with poor road discipline and lack of public awareness, contribute significantly to the rising toll.

Government’s Focus on Reducing Accidents

Efforts are being intensified to curb road accidents through a combination of infrastructure upgrades, policy interventions, strict enforcement, and public awareness campaigns. Gadkari reiterated the Centre’s commitment to reduce road accidents and fatalities by 50%, in line with global road safety goals.

The alarming statistics serve as a wake-up call for both authorities and citizens. While infrastructure improvements and technological interventions are underway, greater accountability, responsible driving, and civic discipline are essential to ensure Indian roads become safer for all.