India is at an important moment when it comes to road safety. Every year, lakhs of people lose their lives in road accidents and experts say many of these deaths could have been prevented. In 2023 alone, India recorded over 4.8 lakh road crashes and more than 1.7 lakh deaths, one of the highest numbers in the world.
Recently, experts from different fields came together in a national discussion on road safety. They included members from engineering bodies, top universities and policy think tanks. Their message was strong and united: India needs a data-driven, scientific and system-wide approach to make roads safer.
A new whitepaper released by the Road Safety Network highlights the key issues behind India’s unsafe roads. It says that poor road design, weak enforcement of traffic rules, lack of coordination between agencies and low focus on vulnerable road users are the major reasons behind rising accidents.
The report suggests adopting the “Safe System” approach, which focuses on safer roads, safer vehicles, safer speeds and safer behaviours. It also calls for better accident data collection, stronger accountability for road-owning departments and the use of technology to study crash patterns.
If India wants to reduce road deaths by half before 2030, experts believe the country must stop relying on short-term fixes. Instead, it must bring long-term structural reforms that use data, technology and strong governance. Safer roads will not only save lives but also support smoother transport, healthier cities and a more responsible society.
