KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Uttar Pradesh with most number of fatal accidents
- Tamil Nadu reports highest number of accidents
- Total accidents stood at 4,61,312
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has released the official data for the road accidents that took place in India last year. Road accidents claimed around 19 lives every hour in the country last year. Total accidents last year were 4,61,312, with fatal accidents amounting to 33.8 percent of that (1,55,781) and 4,43,366 injuries.
While these are absolute data numbers, let's look at what the individual statistics show.
Road Accidents: Stats For 2022
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The year 2022 witnessed an alarming surge in road accidents, with an 11.9 percent increase compared to the previous year. This increase in accidents also led to a 9.4 percent rise in the number of fatalities and a 15.3 percent increase in injuries. These statistics underscore the pressing need to address road safety concerns in the country.
Nitin Gadkari, the Minister for Road Transport and Highways, highlighted the far-reaching consequences of road accidents. He emphasized that the costs of road accidents are not limited to victims and their families but also impact the economy as a whole due to premature deaths, injuries, disabilities, and the loss of potential income.
State-Wise Statistics
In 2022, Tamil Nadu recorded the highest number of road accidents among the states, with 64,105 accidents, constituting 13.9 percent of the total accidents. Madhya Pradesh closely followed with 54,432 accidents, representing 11.8 percent of the total. In terms of fatalities, Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 22,595 deaths, accounting for 13.4 percent of the total fatalities. Tamil Nadu came in second with 17,884 deaths, equivalent to around 10 percent of the total fatalities.
When categorizing accidents and fatalities by road type, it becomes evident that highways, which make up approximately 5 percent of the total road network in the country, contributed to more than 55 percent of total accidents and over 60 percent of fatalities. Highways accounted for 36.2 percent of total fatalities on National Highways.
Indigenous BHARAT NCAP Safety Rating
Leaving behind the Global NCAP, indigenous Bharat NCAP will be the testing agency for crash test ratings moving forward. Vehicles will be assessed based on frontal impact, side impact, and side pole impact tests, covering Adult Occupant Protection (AOP), Child Occupant Protection (COP), and Safety Assist Technologies. Ratings range from 1 to 5 stars, with separate ratings for AOP and COP. Tests involve frontal impacts at 64 km/h, side crashes at 50 km/h, and pole-side impacts at 29 km/h. The maximum and minimum points determine the star rating, with specific safety features required for higher ratings. Bharat NCAP ratings can reach a maximum of 32 points for AOP and 49 points for COP.
Manufacturers have pledged their units for testing, which includes cars like Baleno, Safari, Harrier, & more.
Verdict
While the government is taking stringent actions to curb the rising number of accidents, it still keeps pacing up at a stady rate. Heavier fines for traffic violations, electronic surveillence and the Motor Vehicle Act 2019 are someof the most concrete steps taken by the authority. However, a better road sense needs to prevail which comes only after a decent enough knowledge about rules and best practises. Also, join our Whatsapp Group Community of petrolheads to find out more exciting stuff about the Auto world.
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