List of States with Most Number of Accidents in India

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, Nitin Gadkari, has recently raised alarm on the states that lead in the number of road accidents in a parliamentary session. The scary statistics show massive loss of life due to accidents on the roads.

Highest Number of Road Accidents

• Uttar Pradesh

• Fatalities: 23,652
• Percentage of total road accident deaths: 13.7%

• Tamil Nadu

• Fatalities: 18,347
• Percentage of total road accident deaths: 10.6%

• Maharashtra

• Fatalities: 15,366
• Percentage of total road accident deaths: Approximately 9%

• Madhya Pradesh

• Fatalities: 13,798
• Percentage of total road accident deaths: Approximately 8%
  
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The main causes of road accidents in the top states of India, as mentioned by various reports and studies, are a combination of human errors, unsafe driving practices, and poor road conditions. The following are the key factors contributing to road accidents in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh:

Main Causes of Road Accidents

This is the number one cause of road accidents and accounted for around 72.3% of all accidents and 71.2% of fatalities in 2022. High speeds will raise the impact of accidents and reduce the ability of a driver to react to sudden changes in traffic conditions.

Driving Under the Influence

Alcohol and drugs greatly affect driving skills, and therefore account for about 2.7% of accidents. The probability of accidents will double with every rise in blood alcohol concentration.

Distracted Driving

This is one of the common distractions leading to many accidents caused by using mobile phones while driving. This behaviour points out a larger negligence about the traffic rules.

Driving on the Wrong Side

This is one of the main reasons for about 5.4% of fatalities, which means the most serious violation of road safety norms.

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Inadequate Road Infrastructure

Poorly maintained roads, potholes, and lack of proper signboards lead to accidents. Most of the incidents take place on straight roads where drivers feel too confident about their speed.

Vehicle Condition

Overloading of vehicles, poor maintenance, for example, brake failure, and old vehicles are major contributors to road accidents.

Human Error

Driver faults lead to most of the accidents, which is around 78%, rash driving, fatigue, and failure to follow the traffic signals.

Weather Conditions

Adverse weather conditions, such as fog or heavy rain, can reduce visibility and friction with the road, thereby leading to increased accident rates.

Pedestrian Negligence

Negligence of pedestrians, for example jaywalking or crossing at inappropriate places also forms part of road safety issues

Gadkari expressed his disappointment regarding the rising number of accidents, admitting that despite initial goals to reduce fatalities by 50% by the end of 2024, the situation has worsened. He emphasized that road safety remains a critical issue in India, with approximately 178,000 lives lost annually, predominantly among individuals aged 18 to 34 years.