India records 1,73,000 road deaths in 2023 amid infrastructure spending

By: Shantanu Bhattacharji

Highways—under 5% of India’s roads—caused over half of 2023 fatalities: 57,467 on national highways, 36,595 on state highways, and 66,447 elsewhere. Rural areas saw nearly 69% of deaths.

India’s roads claimed nearly 173,000 lives in 2023, leaving close to half a million injured, according to government data—roughly 55 accidents and 20 deaths every hour. Fatalities accounted for a third of all incidents, placing the country at a grim global extreme: 10 per cent of road deaths despite having only 1 per cent of the world’s vehicles. 

Fatalities increased 2.6 per cent from 2022, while injuries climbed 4.4 per cent to more than 462,000, according to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ annual report. 

The breakdown of fatal accidents shows a troubling pattern: 57,467 deaths (35.8 per cent) occurred on national highways, 36,595 (22.8 per cent) on state highways, and 66,447 (41.4 per cent) on other roads. Around 68.5 per cent of road deaths occurred in rural areas, compared with 31.5 per cent in urban locations. Although national and state highways make up less than 5 per cent of total road length, they accounted for more than half of all accidents and fatalities, highlighting the high-risk nature of these corridors. 

Overspeeding remained the leading cause, contributing to 68 per cent of deaths. The second most common cause was driving on the wrong side or lane indiscipline, followed by drunken driving, using mobile phones while driving, and jumping red lights. 

Failure to follow basic safety rules also proved deadly. In 2023, non-usage of seatbelts claimed 8,441 drivers and 7,584 passengers, while not wearing helmets led to 39,160 rider and 15,408 pillion deaths. 

Young adults are disproportionately affected. People aged 18–45 accounted for 66.4 per cent of fatalities, while those in the working-age group of 18–60 made up 83.4 per cent. Two-wheeler users bore the highest risk, representing 44.8 per cent of deaths, followed by pedestrians at nearly 20 per cent, while 9,489 children tragically lost their lives in road accidents during the year. 

State-wise, the maximum number of accidents occurred in Tamil Nadu (67,213), followed by Madhya Pradesh (55,327), Kerala (48,091), Uttar Pradesh (44,534), and Karnataka (43,440). But the highest fatalities were in Uttar Pradesh (23,652), Tamil Nadu (18,347), Maharashtra (15,366), Madhya Pradesh (13,798), and Karnataka (12,321). By comparison, Delhi reported 5,834 accidents resulting in 1,457 deaths during the year. 

The economic toll is substantial. The World Bank estimates road accidents cost India 3–5 per cent of GDP annually in lost productivity, medical expenses, and emergency services, undermining the very infrastructure meant to drive growth. 

Despite government efforts to improve road safety, much more needs to be done to turn policy into meaningful change. With 26 children dying on Indian roads every day and two-wheeler users accounting for nearly half of all fatalities, these numbers are far more than statistics. “These numbers represent families destroyed and potential lost,” said Piyush Tewari, founder and CEO of SaveLIFE Foundation. 

The paradox is stark: billions spent on highways and expressways have not translated into safer roads. Reckless driving, inconsistent enforcement, poorly designed infrastructure, and delayed emergency response remain persistent challenges. Enforcement is uneven, while essential safety features—barriers, reflective markings, rumble strips—are often missing or poorly maintained. Trauma care delays frequently compromise the critical “golden hour” for saving lives. 

Global experience offers lessons. Australia’s strict speed limits, tougher U.S. drunk-driving laws, and Sweden’s Vision Zero approach demonstrate that consistent enforcement paired with systematic road design can cut fatalities even as traffic rises.