Indian roads claim a life every four minutes, driven by reckless habits and neglect, costing 3.14%
of GDP annually. While education, technology, and strict enforcement are vital, the real change
lies in a collective commitment to prioritize safety over speed and transform behaviors, opines
Yashi Mittal, Head – Corporate Communications, Future Mobility Media.
It could have been just another day. Imagine Ramesh, a 38-year-old shop owner in Bengaluru, setting out on his two-wheeler with a busy schedule—orders to fulfill, meetings to attend. As he cruises down the Outer Ring Road, a sedan suddenly swerves into his lane at high speed. The driver, engrossed in a phone call, barely notices him. In this imagined scenario, Ramesh loses control, skids across the asphalt, and collides with a divider. In moments like these, lives can change forever—or end abruptly. While Ramesh’s story is fictional, its essence is tragically real. Similar accidents occur far too often on Indian roads. As per reports, every four minutes, someone in India loses their life in a road accident. The causes may vary, but one theme remains depressingly constant—bad driving habits.
The Epidemic of Negligence
India’s roads, vibrant and chaotic, are infamous for their unpredictability. While infrastructural issues often share the blame, over 70% of accidents stem from reckless behaviours, such as speeding, distractions, ignoring safety measures, and driver inexperience.
- Speeding: On highways like the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, where speed limits are often ignored, fatal crashes are tragically frequent.
- Distractions: Mobile phones wreak havoc, with incidents like a Delhi college student hitting a pedestrian while recording a social media video highlighting this growing menace.
- Safety Neglect: Helmets and seatbelts are often treated as optional, despite their proven life-saving potential.
- Driver Inexperience: Many drivers, especially younger ones or those with recently issued licenses or no licenses at all, lack adequate training in handling emergencies or understanding traffic norms. This lack of experience, paired with overconfidence, frequently results in devastating accidents. The India Status Report on Road Safety 2024, developed by IIT Delhi, reveals that India is responsible for 11% of global road fatalities, with over-speeding and enforcement gaps as leading causes. It highlights that road crashes disproportionately impact the economically active population, causing severe financial strain. As per data from police departments across states and Union Territories, 1,72,278 people were severely injured in road accidents in 2021. The socio-economic costs of these accidents, according to the “Socio-Economic Cost of Road Accidents in India” report by DIMTS and TRIPP-IIT Delhi, amount to around 3.14% of the nation’s GDP.
The Psychological Aspect of Driving Habits
Bad driving often stems from psychological factors such as stress, overconfidence, or even societal attitudes.
For instance, many drivers in urban areas exhibit “lane entitlement,” believing their time and urgency outweigh others’ rights on the road. Similarly, rural drivers often disregard traffic signals due to a lack of awareness or enforcement. Public campaigns targeting these mindsets, such as emphasizing the risks of distracted driving through emotional ads or gamified interventions, could create lasting behavior change.
The Role of Corporate Responsibility
Some companies are stepping up to improve road safety. For example, fleet operators are now investing in AI-based driver monitoring systems to reduce accidents caused by fatigue and distractions. Programs like Ola’s driver training initiatives focus on instilling safety-first practices among rideshare drivers, setting a benchmark for the industry.
The Silent Heroes: Emergency Responders
A swift emergency response can be the critical factor that determines whether a life is saved or lost. Organizations like SaveLIFE Foundation are working to improve India’s ambulance networks, especially on accident-prone highways. These efforts, combined with apps like GoodSAM (which alert nearby responders during an emergency), are helping save precious lives during the golden hour.
What Can Be Done?
While challenges remain, several steps can transform road safety in India:
- Education: Start road safety education early, integrate it into school curricula, and emphasize ethical driving at driving schools. Public awareness campaigns should reach all age groups.
- Technology: AI-driven traffic systems, IoT-enabled vehicles and intelligent infrastructure like smart traffic signals and embedded sensors can greatly enhance safety and reduce accidents.
- Enforcement: Cities adopting AI-based surveillance are seeing improved compliance, reducing traffic violations and making roads safer.
- Grassroots Campaigns: Local campaigns like Bengaluru’s “No Honking” promote discipline and awareness, creating a culture of road safety.
- Infrastructure Upgrades: Investing in better-lit roads, improved lane markings, and redesigning accident-prone black spots can prevent countless accidents. Pedestrian and cyclist-friendly infrastructure further safeguards vulnerable users.
By combining technology, education, enforcement, and community efforts, India can make its roads safer for everyone.
Regional Initiatives
India’s vast cultural and geographical diversity means state-level initiatives play a vital role in road safety. Here’s how some states are making an impact:
Tamil Nadu’s “Road Safety Awareness Week”
This state stands out for its focused efforts in reducing road fatalities. During its annual campaign, Tamil Nadu conducts awareness drives at schools, distributes safety leaflets at traffic signals, and organizes workshops for commercial drivers. The government has also taken a data-driven approach, mapping accident-prone zones and addressing infrastructure issues like faulty road designs and poor lighting.
Maharashtra’s “Helmet Saves Lives” Campaign
Two-wheelers account for 37% of India’s road fatalities. Maharashtra’s police, in collaboration with NGOs, has implemented this campaign to educate riders on the life-saving benefits of helmets. They organize helmet rallies, distribute free helmets, and impose fines on non-compliant riders, aiming for behavioral change through a mix of encouragement and enforcement.
Kerala’s Model for “Good Samaritan Protection”
Kerala has proactively implemented the central government’s guidelines to safeguard Good Samaritans who assist accident victims. Public awareness campaigns emphasize that helping an injured person will not lead to legal harassment
A noticeable increase in bystander intervention during accidents has been reported, significantly improving survival rates.
Karnataka’s “AI for Safer Roads” Initiative
In 2024, Karnataka made strides in road safety with its “AI for Safer Roads” initiative. The state integrated artificial intelligence into traffic management systems in Bengaluru to monitor violations and optimize congestion response. Public campaigns on helmet awareness and free eye check-ups for 15,000 public transport drivers further reinforced its focus on safety. The initiative underscores the role of technology and proactive awareness in reducing road accidents.
Global Comparisons: Lessons for India
India can address its road safety challenges by learning from global best practices:
Singapore’s Automated Enforcement:
High-tech cameras monitor traffic violations, with fines issued instantly. This has drastically reduced repeat offenses, showing that consistent enforcement works.
Lesson for India:
Expanding the use of AI-driven surveillance cameras at traffic junctions and highways can create a similar deterrent effect.
Sweden’s Vision Zero Initiative: Sweden’s revolutionary approach combines safer road designs, strict enforcement, and public education to aim for zero fatalities. Measures like pedestrian-friendly zones and speed-reducing infrastructure are central to its success.
Lesson for India: Creating “safe zones” around schools, hospitals, and marketplaces could reduce accidents in vulnerable areas.
Japan’s Defensive Driving Education:
In Japan, renewing a driver’s license requires attending a comprehensive defensive driving course. These refresher sessions emphasize mindfulness and hazard anticipation.
Lesson for India: Mandatory defensive driving workshops during license renewal could transform driver behaviour over time.
A Call to Action
We all play a role in the solution. As drivers, we can respect speed limits, avoid distractions, and use safety gear. As passengers, we can demand responsible driving. And as citizens, we can advocate for better laws and infrastructure.
The next time you drive, think of who’s waiting for you at home. Every safe choice matters.
By embracing responsibility, India can rewrite its road safety narrative—turning tragedy into transformation. The road to change may be long, but every small step we take—every helmet worn, every speed limit observed, every pedestrian given right of way— brings us closer to a future where tragedies are rare and preventable
The journey to safer roads starts today—with each of us making safety a priority. Together, we can build a safer and more promising future for everyone.
Yashi Mittal,
Head Corporate Communications
Future Mobility Media