Over-speeding to potholes: The many reasons Indian roads are unsafe

Spending on safety is inadequate as accidents and fatalities continue in the country

India this week got an international award for road safety but data shows it has miles to go. More than 1.5 million people died in road accidents over the past decade in the country, exposing weakness in enforcing rules, infrastructure and public awareness. In 2023 alone, 170,000 people died in road accidents: That amounts to 474 fatalities daily on average, or one every three minutes.

 

Data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and independent research by Acko, a digital insurance provider, shows the severity of the crisis. Acko found that major cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru comprise