Pune city has witnessed a significant 15 percent reduction in deaths from road crashes in 2025, offering a glimmer of hope in urban traffic safety. The annual fatalities dropped from 341 in the previous year to 290, according to a detailed safety and accident analysis report. The number of crashes that resulted in deaths also declined from 329 to 275.
Vulnerable Road Users Bear the Brunt
Despite the overall positive trend, the report highlights a deeply concerning and persistent pattern. Pedestrians and people on two-wheelers—including riders and pillion riders—constituted nearly 90 percent of all road crash deaths in 2025. Together, these vulnerable groups accounted for 259 out of the 290 fatalities recorded last year.
Officials stated that this disproportionate toll underscores an urgent need for focused action. It calls for improving walking environments with adequate crossings and highlights the extreme risk two-wheeler users face in mixed traffic dominated by faster, heavier vehicles, compounded by poor adherence to helmet rules.
Rising Serious Injuries and Hit-and-Run Crisis
While deaths decreased, the city grappled with a marginal rise in serious injuries. More than 830 people suffered serious injuries in road crashes in 2025, a slight increase from 819 in 2024. Alarmingly, serious injury crashes consistently outnumbered fatal crashes throughout the year. Compared to 2021, when 517 serious injuries were recorded, the 2025 figure represents a steep 60 percent rise.
A major area of concern is the shockingly high rate of hit-and-run incidents. In 2025, a staggering 54 percent of all fatal crashes in Pune were classified as hit-and-run cases. This points to a severe challenge in enforcement and accountability, often leading to delayed emergency response and reduced chances of survival for victims, particularly during late-night hours.
High-Risk Corridors and Demographics Most Affected
The study identified specific high-risk corridors within the city. Approximately 37 percent of fatal crashes occurred on five major highway stretches: Pune–Solapur and Pune–Ahilyanagar highways, Pune–Mumbai bypass, Pune-Saswad, and Pune-Satara roads. These corridors, which carry a mix of high-speed through traffic and local movement, require urgent, targeted safety interventions like speed control and access management.
Demographic data reveals that young and working-age men are the most affected group. Over half (52 percent) of all road crash deaths were among males aged 20–49 years. However, the risk of death escalates sharply with age, with the highest death rates recorded among those aged 70 and above. Elderly pedestrians, especially women, remain particularly vulnerable due to factors like slower walking speeds and poor footpath infrastructure.
Key Recommendations for a Safer Pune
The report, conducted by the Pune City Traffic Police in collaboration with Bloomberg Philanthropies and released by Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, proposes a multi-pronged strategy to build on the progress and address the gaps. The key recommended measures include:
- Improving pedestrian safety, especially for the elderly, through better sidewalks, raised crossings, and accessible infrastructure.
- Developing infrastructure to encourage a shift from private vehicles to public transportation.
- Strict enforcement of helmet laws to reduce fatalities among two-wheeler riders.
- Prioritizing speed reduction through infrastructure changes, enforcement, and public communication.
- Addressing data quality issues by ensuring FIRs include key details like age, gender, and precise location of crashes.
- Establishing a dedicated crash analysis team and producing a routine Pune City Road Safety Report.
While the 15 percent reduction in deaths marks a positive step, the data makes it clear that protecting pedestrians and two-wheeler users must be the cornerstone of Pune's road safety mission moving forward.
