India Sees High Road Traffic Fatalities

A recent report by India's Ministry of Health highlights that road crashes are the leading cause of unintentional injury deaths, accounting for over 43% of such fatalities between 2016 and 2022. The report indicates a concerning trend, with road traffic injuries (RTIs) increasing from 4.2 lakh deaths in 2016 to 4.3 lakh in 2022, driven primarily by overspeeding, which is responsible for 75.2% of these fatalities. Additionally, WHO data revealed that vulnerable road users, particularly motorized two and three-wheeler riders, accounted for the majority of road deaths, with an estimated 1,53,973 fatalities reported in 2021. The mortality ratio remains predominantly male (86%) and underscored the urgent need for stricter enforcement of traffic rules and enhanced public awareness efforts. Other significant causes of unintentional injury deaths include drowning, falls, and burns. The report calls for immediate measures to reverse the alarming rise in road traffic deaths and emphasizes the importance of road safety as a public health priority.