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It won’t be an uncommon instance: a loud crash in the dead of night, a fleeting glimpse of taillights vanishing into the darkness, and a life lost in an instant. No CCTV footage, no eyewitnesses, and no number plate—just another fatal accident where the vehicle at fault remains unknown.
This was the reality of over two in five fatal accidents in Delhi in the past year. In 2024, as many as 1,504 fatal accidents took place, causing 1,551 deaths. Of these, around 42% of the offending vehicles remain unknown, killing 646 people.
In the past four years, fatal accidents rose 24.7% from 1,206 in 2021 to 1,504 in 2024. What remained consistent is the percentage of “unknown vehicles at fault”. From 2021 to 2024, as many as 2,543 people were killed and the offending vehicles remained unknown. In 2023, 46% (660) of offending vehicles were unknown among 1,432 fatal accidents. It was 47% (668 of 1,428 offending vehicles) in 2022, and 46% (555 of 1,206 offending vehicles) in 2021.
A traffic police officer explained that there were often black spots that didn’t have CCTV coverage. “There have been cases where a vehicle fled an area where not enough CCTV cameras were present to capture the building or to retrace its route… Manual intelligence, such as eyewitness statements, is used in such cases, which takes time,” the officer added.
“There aren’t enough traffic officers deployed at late hours, which can also be one of the issues why a quick solution is not found in cases,” another officer said.
S Velmurugan, chief scientist and head of Traffic Engineering and Safety Division at the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), emphasised the critical role of camera surveillance in identifying offending vehicles. “Most accidents occur during non-peak hours when there is little to no traffic congestion, meaning there are fewer eyewitnesses. This is a major reason why many vehicles involved in fatal crashes remain unidentified,” he said.
He pointed out that more than the traffic police, the responsibility also lay with road-owning agencies. “See our flyovers only. A fully elevated corridor could be a solution, but land availability remains a challenge. As a result, a series of flyovers in close proximity sometimes leads to disasters, and poor road geometry—especially at slip roads—is another major concern,” he explained.
Velmurugan stressed that road engineering played a significant role in preventing accidents. “Improved infrastructure, including better road markings and clearer lane divisions, is necessary to guide drivers and enhance safety. Additionally, road ethics and responsible driving behaviour are crucial factors that cannot be overlooked,” he added.
Beyond the 42% of vehicles that remain unknown, another 40% are either cars, heavy transport vehicles, or two-wheelers. In 2024, among the vehicles at fault, private cars saw a significant jump in fatal crashes. In 2023, as many as 184 fatal accidents were attributed to private cars, killing 187 people. In 2024, this surged to 240 accidents and 248 fatalities.
While two-wheelers also come under the vulnerable category, when it comes to offence, their contribution is no less. The number of fatal crashes involving two-wheelers as offenders rose from 155 in 2023 to 187 in 2024, with fatalities increasing from 158 to 195. Heavy transport vehicles (HTVs), including trucks, tankers and trailers, are another major concern. Fatal crashes involving HTVs increased from 178 in 2023 to 181 in 2024, with 191 people killed.
“The vehicles-at-fault trend offers crucial insights into the types of vehicles involved in accidents and the key factors contributing to road crashes,” said Satya Vir Katara, additional commissioner of police, traffic headquarters.
“This data helps us identify patterns and recommend targeted measures to improve road safety. While the absence of CCTV cameras does pose a challenge in tracing some vehicles, we are actively working on increasing surveillance across Delhi’s roads. However, long-term solutions require collaboration with other departments to improve road engineering, such as better-designed flyover entries, exits, and overall infrastructure. Strengthening these aspects could make a significant difference,” Katara added.
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The majority of fatal crashes involved private cars, heavy transport vehicles, and two-wheelers.
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It won’t be an uncommon instance: a loud crash in the dead of night, a fleeting glimpse of taillights vanishing into the darkness, and a life lost in an instant. No CCTV footage, no eyewitnesses, and no number plate—just another fatal accident where the vehicle at fault remains unknown.This was the reality of over two in five fatal accidents in Delhi in the past year. In 2024, as many as 1,504 fatal accidents took place, causing 1,551 deaths. Of these, around 42% of the offending vehicles remain unknown, killing 646 people.In the past four years, fatal accidents rose 24.7% from 1,206 in 2021 to 1,504 in 2024. What remained consistent is the percentage of “unknown vehicles at fault”. From 2021 to 2024, as many as 2,543 people were killed and the offending vehicles remained unknown. In 2023, 46% (660) of offending vehicles were unknown among 1,432 fatal accidents. It was 47% (668 of 1,428 offending vehicles) in 2022, and 46% (555 of 1,206 offending vehicles) in 2021.A traffic police officer explained that there were often black spots that didn’t have CCTV coverage. “There have been cases where a vehicle fled an area where not enough CCTV cameras were present to capture the building or to retrace its route… Manual intelligence, such as eyewitness statements, is used in such cases, which takes time,” the officer added.”There aren’t enough traffic officers deployed at late hours, which can also be one of the issues why a quick solution is not found in cases,” another officer said.
S Velmurugan, chief scientist and head of Traffic Engineering and Safety Division at the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), emphasised the critical role of camera surveillance in identifying offending vehicles. “Most accidents occur during non-peak hours when there is little to no traffic congestion, meaning there are fewer eyewitnesses. This is a major reason why many vehicles involved in fatal crashes remain unidentified,” he said.
He pointed out that more than the traffic police, the responsibility also lay with road-owning agencies. “See our flyovers only. A fully elevated corridor could be a solution, but land availability remains a challenge. As a result, a series of flyovers in close proximity sometimes leads to disasters, and poor road geometry—especially at slip roads—is another major concern,” he explained.Velmurugan stressed that road engineering played a significant role in preventing accidents. “Improved infrastructure, including better road markings and clearer lane divisions, is necessary to guide drivers and enhance safety. Additionally, road ethics and responsible driving behaviour are crucial factors that cannot be overlooked,” he added.Beyond the 42% of vehicles that remain unknown, another 40% are either cars, heavy transport vehicles, or two-wheelers. In 2024, among the vehicles at fault, private cars saw a significant jump in fatal crashes. In 2023, as many as 184 fatal accidents were attributed to private cars, killing 187 people. In 2024, this surged to 240 accidents and 248 fatalities.
While two-wheelers also come under the vulnerable category, when it comes to offence, their contribution is no less. The number of fatal crashes involving two-wheelers as offenders rose from 155 in 2023 to 187 in 2024, with fatalities increasing from 158 to 195. Heavy transport vehicles (HTVs), including trucks, tankers and trailers, are another major concern. Fatal crashes involving HTVs increased from 178 in 2023 to 181 in 2024, with 191 people killed.
“The vehicles-at-fault trend offers crucial insights into the types of vehicles involved in accidents and the key factors contributing to road crashes,” said Satya Vir Katara, additional commissioner of police, traffic headquarters.
“This data helps us identify patterns and recommend targeted measures to improve road safety. While the absence of CCTV cameras does pose a challenge in tracing some vehicles, we are actively working on increasing surveillance across Delhi’s roads. However, long-term solutions require collaboration with other departments to improve road engineering, such as better-designed flyover entries, exits, and overall infrastructure. Strengthening these aspects could make a significant difference,” Katara added.