Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: At least six in every 10 road crash victims in India in 2024 were two-wheeler riders/pedestrians, according to the latest report of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). An analysis of four years of data shows a steady rise in both the share and number of two-wheeler riders and pedestrians killed in crashes, amid govt’s focus on making cars safer.NCRB data for 2024 show that more than 1.1 lakh deaths — 64% of total 1.75 lakh road fatalities — were of two-wheeler riders and pedestrians. The data also show that the share of pedestrians killed in road crashes has surpassed that of car occupants, making pedestrians the second-most affected category of road users after two-wheeler riders. The trend highlights the low priority given to pedestrian safety in development of the country’s road network.At 15.1%, car occupants accounted for the second-highest share (23,531) of road deaths in 2021. However, in 2022, the number of pedestrians killed reached 24,742, exceeding the number of car occupants killed, and the trend has continued over the past three years. In 2024, pedestrian fatalities stood at 25,769, second only to two-wheeler rider deaths, which were at 84,599.Road safety experts across the world, including in India, have urged policymakers to focus more on safety of motorised two-wheelers, which remain the most affordable and convenient mode of private transport for millions. They account for almost three-fourths of all vehicles.Maximum deaths due to two-wheeler crashes were reported in Tamil Nadu (11,786) and Uttar Pradesh (8,575).As per the report, a majority of road crashes (61.2%) were due to overspeeding, accounting for a little more than one lakh fatalities. Dangerous and careless driving or overtaking claimed 46,132 lives.Road-wise classification of crash data shows that National Highways and State Highways accounted for around one lakh fatalities (58% of all deaths) in 2024.
