Road Accidents Kill More Than War, Covid: Gadkari
Transport minister urges MPs to lead road safety campaigns as 1.8 lakh lives are lost annually
- 1.8 lakh deaths reported in road accidents every year
- Majority of victims are young people aged 18–34
- Gadkari links accidents to poor road behaviour
- MPs urged to run safety drives in constituencies
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 19th Dec: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said deaths caused by road accidents in India exceed casualties from wars and the Covid pandemic, calling the situation a national concern rooted largely in human behaviour.
Speaking during Question Hour in Parliament, Gadkari said around five lakh road accidents occur every year in the country, claiming nearly 1.8 lakh lives, most of them young people. “I have to say this with profound grief that road accidents are linked to human behaviour. There is no regard for road safety rules,” he said.
Citing official data, the minister said the highest number of fatalities occur in the 18–34 age group, which accounts for nearly 66 per cent of total deaths. He added that despite repeated awareness campaigns by the ministry, there has been little improvement in how people follow traffic rules.
Gadkari urged Members of Parliament to actively run road safety campaigns in their constituencies, stressing that public participation is crucial to reducing fatalities. He also requested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to allow a dedicated discussion on road safety in Parliament to gather suggestions from MPs.
Taking note of the appeal, Birla asked all MPs to engage in road safety awareness initiatives and said a detailed discussion could be held in the next session. “We all have to work together,” the Speaker said.
The minister also highlighted the government’s ‘Rah-Veer’ scheme, under which any person who helps a road accident victim by taking them to a hospital is rewarded with ₹25,000, aimed at encouraging timely assistance and saving lives.
