Autobayng News Team
The report also shows that nearly 67 per cent of the people killed on Indian roads in 2024 were two-wheeler riders or pedestrians. A total of 1.28 lakh two-wheeler riders and pedestrians lost their lives in road crashes.“>
Standard helmets and seatbelts could have saved thousands of lives in 2024. Over 40 per cent of the 81,780 two-wheeler riders killed in road crashes could have survived had they worn good-quality helmets, while seatbelts could have prevented about half of the 21,988 deaths among car occupants.
The number of fatalities has been released by the Union road transport ministry.
According to a UN Motorcycle Helmet Study, motorcyclists are 26 times more likely to die in road crashes than drivers of cars, and wearing an appropriate helmet “improves their chances of survival by 42 per cent and helps avoid 69 per cent of injuries to riders.” Similarly, World Health Organisation states that seat-belts are approximately 50 per cent effective in preventing fatalities in crashes in which motorists would otherwise die.
The road transport ministry’s report, based on data provided by state police departments, shows Tamil Nadu recorded a maximum of 7,744 deaths due to non-wearing of helmets, followed by Maharashtra (5,946) and Madhya Pradesh (5,543). In case of fatalities attributed to non-wearing of seatbelts, Uttar Pradesh reported the maximum 2,816 deaths, followed by MP (1,929) and Maharashtra (1,427).
While not wearing safety gears and other causes of fatal crashes, including speeding and wrong side diving, are all related to road users’ behaviour, the road transport ministry’s report also reveals how increasing negligence of road owning agencies has also pushed up the total number of deaths. For example, fatalities due to potholes went up to 2,384 in 2024, a rise of 10.4 per cent over 2023 and fatalities at under-construction sites stood at 5,389, a spike of 19.4 per cent over the previous year.
The report also shows that nearly 67 per cent of the people killed on Indian roads in 2024 were two-wheeler riders or pedestrians. A total of 1.28 lakh two-wheeler riders and pedestrians lost their lives in road crashes.
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