India recorded 1,77,175 road crash deaths in 2024, according to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ (MoRTH) annual Road Accidents in India report, the most comprehensive source of road crash data published by the Government of India. This problem will continue to get bigger as India’s vehicle population grows and its road network expands and the risks to those with the least protection on the road, pedestrians, will continue to increase.
Every fifth person killed on India’s roads in 2024 was a pedestrian making them the second largest group of road crash victims after two-wheeler riders. Unlike those inside vehicles, pedestrians have no protection around them and usually don’t have alternative choices of transport or safe routes.
State comparison
When comparing states, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of fatalities in 2024 at 24,118, followed by Tamil Nadu at 18,449 and Maharashtra at 15,715. Tamil Nadu leads the country in total road crashes with 67,526 reported crashes, 10,000 more than the second-ranked Madhya Pradesh.
The Price Pedestrians have to pay
When focusing on pedestrian deaths specifically, Tamil Nadu leads with 4,712 pedestrian deaths in 2024, followed by Bihar at 4,149. West Bengal does not appear in the top 10 states by total fatalities, yet it ranks 4th in pedestrian deaths. Suggesting that pedestrians face a specific and disproportionate risk within the state.
In 2024, two-wheelers were responsible for the largest share of pedestrian deaths; 10,378 deaths, or 28.4% of the total. Cars, taxis, vans and light motor vehicles were close behind at 9,302 deaths (25.5%), followed by trucks and lorries at 5,165 (14.1%) and buses at 2,257 (6.2%).
As India’s private vehicle population grows, more cars and two-wheelers on the road means more pedestrian deaths in absolute terms, even if the percentage share of each vehicle type stays flat. India’s rapid increase in registered vehicles, particularly private cars in urban areas, means that the absolute number of pedestrians killed by cars will continue to rise.
Across India’s million-plus cities, 67,823 road crashes in 2024 occurred at uncontrolled junctions. These are junctions with no traffic signal, no police presence, and no stop sign. This compares to 10,759 at signal-controlled junctions and 8,182 at police-controlled junctions.
The data presents challenges that need addressing in India’s road network. States with high total fatalities need interventions and enforcement at scale such as better road design, speed management, stricter rules when granting licenses. States with disproportionately high pedestrian deaths need to focus on improving footpaths, pedestrian crossings, signals, and lighting infrastructure. With increasing vehicle ownership across the country, without changes in the road environment to protect them, pedestrians will continue to pay the cost with their lives.