Road safety remains a pressing issue in India, a country that accounts for over 0.16 million road accident fatalities annually. As per a World Bank study on road crashes and injuries, published in 2021, India accounts for 11 per cent of all crash-related deaths.
The increasing number of road accidents and fatalities in the country is largely due to poor road design and engineering, lax enforcement of traffic laws, and lack of timely trauma care.
Given the importance of the road sector in the Indian economy, the focus should be on rectification of black spots, widening of roads, deployment of a GPS system to alert drivers, maintenance and repair of roads, and imparting driving training. Incorporating multiple safety features in a vehicle is not enough; they must also be optimally utilised.
Current statistics
In 2022 alone, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) recorded 461,312 road accidents, which resulted in 168,491 deaths and 443,366 injuries. These figures represent a significant increase compared to the previous year, with accidents rising by 11.9 per cent, fatalities by 9.4 per cent, and injuries by 15.3 per cent. National highways bear the highest toll, with 45 deaths annually per 100 km.
Several factors contribute to this crisis, including infrastructure deficiencies, driver behaviour, and enforcement challenges. Around 78 per cent of accidents were attributed to driver error, such as speeding and ignoring traffic signals. Poorly designed roads, inadequate lighting and a lack of pedestrian crossings are other significant issues.
Notably, over 5,800 black spots – high-risk accident zones – have been identified across the country, especially in states such as Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Telangana. Despite spending over Rs 150 billion on repairs and improvements over the past five years, the number of black spots continues to rise due to flawed detailed project reports (DPRs).
Regulatory measures
To enhance road safety, the central government has adopted a multi-pronged approach of focusing on the 4Es: education, engineering (roads and vehicles), enforcement, and emergency care. Engineering and vehicle safety interventions play a pivotal role in enhancing road safety under the 4Es framework. Measures such as road safety audits, rectification of black spots and mandatory vehicle safety features, such as airbags, ABS and speed limiters, are being implemented. The Vehicle Scrapping Policy and Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (BNCAP) have empowered consumers to make safer vehicle choices. Enforcement has also been strengthened through the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, with e-challans and technological interventions. Emergency care now includes improved ambulance availability, cashless treatment pilots and the Good Samaritan Law. Moreover, educational campaigns such as the National Road Safety Month and driver training initiatives have been promoting responsible road use, complementing these measures.
India has implemented several policies to enhance road safety, starting with the National Road Safety Policy (NRSP), which emphasises infrastructure development, driver licensing, stricter traffic law enforcement, public awareness campaigns, and improved emergency medical care. The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 strengthens this effort with stricter penalties and comprehensive measures to address road safety challenges. Institutional frameworks such as the National Road Safety Board, National Road Safety Council (NRSC) and Special Road Safety Cell further support these initiatives by focusing on monitoring, enforcement and post-crash care.
Globally, India has aligned its objectives with key commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), targeting a 50 per cent reduction in road fatalities by 2030 (Goals 3.6 and 11.2). The Second Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021-30) and the Stockholm Declaration (2020) guide India’s efforts towards an integrated approach for safer transport systems. The country has also pledged to achieve the Global Road Safety Performance Targets, including safer infrastructure, enhanced vehicle standards, and improved road user behaviour. Participation in the United Nations Road Safety Fund (UNRSF) has further strengthened its global collaboration, alongside adherence to principles from the Brasilia Declaration (2015), which focuses on legislation, infrastructure and behavioural reforms. Together, these national and global commitments ensure a cohesive approach to reducing road accidents and fatalities.
Moreover, the central government has consistently allocated funds to enhance road safety and public transport. Initiatives such as “road safety publicity measures” received Rs 1.71 billion in 2020-21, peaking at Rs 1.89 billion in 2022-23, and Rs 1.05 billion in 2024-25. “Inspection and certification centres” were funded with Rs 0.29 billion in 2020-21, Rs 0.33 billion in 2022-23 and
Rs 0.19 billion in 2024-25. Investments in “public transport systems” rose sharply from Rs 0.15 billion in 2022-23 to Rs 0.5 billion in 2023-24, demonstrating the government’s commitment to road safety and infrastructure.
Leveraging technology
To address road safety challenges on national highways and high-density corridors, the central government has implemented advanced traffic management systems (ATMS) equipped with technologies such as speed cameras and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR). The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has deployed ATMS on key expressways, such as the Delhi-Meerut and Eastern Peripheral Expressways, for real-time incident detection and faster emergency response. Plans to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) for monitoring traffic violations and enhancing safety are also under way, with private sector players collaborating on innovative solutions.
Indian technology companies are contributing significantly to this effort. For example, Netradyne’s AI-powered Driving system uses vehicle-mounted cameras and sensors to analyse driving behaviour, offering real-time alerts for unsafe actions such as drowsiness or hard braking. The system also rewards consistent safe driving, fostering a culture of accountability among commercial vehicle operators.
Additionally, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are proving effective in reducing accidents. A study by iRASTE Nagpur revealed that ADAS-equipped buses had 41 per cent fewer accidents than their non-ADAS counterparts.
State-level initiatives
Several states in India are leveraging technology and innovative approaches to enhance road safety. In Nagpur, the intelligent solutions for road safety through technology and engineering (iRASTE) initiative uses AI to identify potential accident scenarios and alert drivers through systems such as ADAS and intelligent speed assistance (ISA). It also monitors “grey spots” – areas at risk of becoming accident-prone black spots if left unaddressed.
Kerala has installed 726 AI cameras to automatically detect traffic violations and send fines directly to offenders, aiming to reduce road accidents by half by 2024. Similarly, Bengaluru uses AI-enabled cameras for issuing contactless challans via SMS for traffic violations, while Delhi employs an intelligent traffic management system (ITMS) equipped with AI and 3D radar-based cameras at key junctions to monitor overspeeding and red-light violations.
Telangana’s iRASTE initiative, led by an applied AI research centre and IIIT Hyderabad, focuses on road safety in public transport, with AI-enabled systems being integrated into buses. Karnataka is also implementing AI-powered collision warning and driver drowsiness systems in over 1,000 buses to enhance passenger safety. Educational campaigns in the state are also embedding road safety awareness from an early age, ensuring a safer future.
The way forward
India’s road safety data remains concerning, but lessons can be drawn from countries such as Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka, which have reduced fatalities despite rising motorisation. High-income nations such as Sweden with its “Vision Zero” strategy, demonstrate the effectiveness of integrating infrastructure, vehicle design, trauma care, and legislation to prevent accidents. For India, the adoption of safety audits in highway designs and holding engineers and contractors accountable is crucial. Expanding the use of ATMS, updating Indian Roads Congress (IRC) standards, and enforcing safety compliance can further enhance road safety. Meanwhile, strengthening public awareness campaigns is essential to foster responsible driving and support India’s goal of halving road accident deaths by 2030.
