In a sobering revelation in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari presented alarming statistics on road safety, placing Madhya Pradesh among the most dangerous states for commuters. The data, shared on December 10, underscores a critical public safety crisis on the state's roads.
A State in the Red Zone: Alarming National Rankings
The figures are stark. At least 41 people lose their lives every single day in road accidents across Madhya Pradesh. This grim daily toll positions MP as the fourth-worst state in the country for total road fatalities, trailing only the larger states of Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. The central government reported that Madhya Pradesh logged a total of 14,791 road accidents in the year 2024.
However, the deeper analysis reveals more disturbing trends. The state has earned the dubious distinction of ranking second in the entire nation for fatalities attributed to not wearing helmets or seatbelts. Specifically, a shocking 6,541 individuals died in 2024 in accidents where not wearing a helmet was a factor. Another 1,929 perished because they were not strapped into their seatbelts.
Breaking Down the Causes: Overspeeding and Rule Violations
When it comes to deaths blamed solely on helmet rule violations, Madhya Pradesh again stands second, this time after Tamil Nadu, which saw 7,744 such deaths. In a similar category for seatbelt-related fatalities, MP is second only to Uttar Pradesh, which reported 2,816 deaths.
Overspeeding continues to be a massive killer. Madhya Pradesh reported 11,970 fatalities due to overspeeding in 2024, the third-highest number in India. Tamil Nadu led with 12,240 deaths, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 12,010.
In terms of overall accident deaths, Madhya Pradesh's 14,791 fatalities place it fourth, following Uttar Pradesh (24,118), Tamil Nadu (18,449), and Maharashtra (15,715).
National Context and the Enforcement Challenge
The data paints a worrying national picture as well. Compared to 45,266 accidents and 11,141 deaths in 2020, the numbers have surged to 56,669 accidents and 14,791 deaths in 2024. This represents an increase of over 11,500 accidents and 3,650 fatalities in just four years, highlighting a growing road safety emergency.
While presenting these figures, the Union government clarified the division of responsibility. It stressed that traffic management and enforcement fall primarily under the jurisdiction of state and Union Territory administrations. The Centre's role is to formulate rules under the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, while the onus of implementing them lies with the states.
In his reply, Minister Gadkari outlined central initiatives aimed at improving safety, including guidelines for regular safety audits of all national highways at various stages—design, construction, and pre-opening—as well as on existing stretches. He noted that road construction for other categories, like state highways, is undertaken by the states themselves.
The statistics from Madhya Pradesh and other top-ranking states point towards a twin crisis: widespread wilful violation of basic safety rules by the public and significant gaps in enforcement by authorities. The rising annual toll is a urgent call for coordinated action between citizens and governments to prevent further loss of life on the roads.
