Chennai, 16 December (H.S.) : Tamil Nadu has ranked first in the country for the total number of road accidents in 2024 and second in accident-related fatalities, highlighting the persistent road safety challenges in the state.
According to data presented to the Rajya Sabha by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH):Total Accidents: Tamil Nadu recorded 67,526 road accidents in 2024, the highest among all states and union territories. This figure is a slight increase from the 67,213 accidents reported in 2023.
National Share: Tamil Nadu alone accounted for nearly 14% of the total road accidents reported nationwide in 2024.Fatalities: The state reported 18,449 deaths, ranking second in the country, behind only Uttar Pradesh (24,118 deaths).
Overspeeding Remains Dominant Cause: Overspeeding continues to be the primary cause of road accidents and deaths in the state:70% of Accidents: Approximately 47,240 accidents in 2024 were attributed to overspeeding.66% of Fatalities: These crashes resulted in 12,240 deaths.
Non-Compliance with Safety Norms: Non-compliance with safety regulations also contributed significantly to the high death toll: Helmet-Related Deaths: The state recorded 7,744 deaths due to non-wearing of helmets, a figure that remains persistently high. Seat Belt-Related Deaths: There were 469 deaths linked to the non-wearing of seat belts, though these fatalities have shown a gradual decline in recent years.
The data did show an improvement in enforcement regarding licensing, with accidents involving drivers without valid driving licenses showing a downward trend (4,017 in 2024, down from 4,733 in 2023).
Union MoRTH Minister Nitin Gadkari has emphasized that traffic management and enforcement primarily fall under the jurisdiction of state governments, while the central government focuses on framing rules under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and supporting data-driven interventions like the Electronic Detailed Accident Report system.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary
