Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jun 11: Roads in Karnataka are increasingly turning deadly, with overspeeding and reckless driving becoming fatal traps for motorists. The ‘Accidents and Suicides in India 2024’ report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has revealed alarming figures, placing Karnataka fourth among the states with the highest number of road accidents in the country.
According to the data, a total of 4,67,967 road accidents were reported across India in 2024, claiming 1,75,142 lives. This means that an average of 480 to 546 people lost their lives in road accidents every day.
Tamil Nadu topped the list with 67,526 accidents, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 55,711 and Kerala with 46,591 accidents. Karnataka recorded 43,062 accidents in a single year, resulting in 12,339 deaths and injuries to around 52,591 people.
The data has raised serious concern as Karnataka has witnessed a sharp rise in accidents over the years. In 2020, the state recorded 34,178 accidents and 9,760 deaths. By 2023, the number of accidents had increased to 43,440, while deaths rose to 12,323. Though 2024 saw a marginal decline of 0.9% in the number of accidents, the death toll increased further.
Overspeeding has emerged as the primary cause behind these fatal accidents. In Karnataka alone, 10,614 people lost their lives due to overspeeding. At the national level, overspeeding accounted for 61.2% of all accidents. Dangerous and negligent driving contributed to nearly 26% of accidents.
The report further stated that 4,145 people died on national highways and 108 on expressways in Karnataka. Drunk driving, mobile phone usage while driving, and night driving were also identified as major causes.
Across the country, two-wheeler riders accounted for 48.3% of total road deaths, amounting to 84,599 fatalities, and Karnataka too reflected a similar trend.
Bengaluru has emerged as one of the most dangerous cities in the country in terms of road safety, recording 4,769 accidents. The Bengaluru-Mysuru and Bengaluru-Hyderabad national highways have been identified as particularly dangerous stretches.
Young people aged between 18 and 35 years, two-wheeler riders, and pedestrians are among the worst affected. Road accidents are also causing economic losses amounting to 3 to 3.5% of the country’s GDP.
The report pointed out that 59.7% of all accidents in the country occur in rural areas, proving that road safety is not merely an urban issue.
The findings underline the urgent need for responsible driving and strict adherence to traffic rules. Unless motorists exercise caution and discipline on roads, highways could continue turning into death traps, the report warned.