Delhi's Road Safety Crisis: Two-Wheelers Surge to Second Place in Fatal Accidents
New Delhi: For years, the city's roads have followed a perilous pattern—the largest vehicles often posed the greatest danger. Private cars consistently topped the list of fatal crashes, with heavy goods vehicles trailing closely behind. However, a significant transformation has occurred over the past two years, fundamentally redrawing Delhi's risk map.
A Dramatic Shift in Accident Trends
In 2025, Delhi recorded 1,578 fatal crashes, a concerning increase from 1,504 in 2024, according to data from the Delhi Traffic Police. Of the 922 identified cases in 2025, private cars remained the leading cause, responsible for 26.5% of fatal crashes. Scooters and motorcycles have now overtaken heavy goods vehicles, accounting for 21.7% of fatalities, while goods vehicles followed at 20.6%.
This trend began to emerge in 2024, where out of 870 fatal crashes, private cars caused 27.6%, two-wheelers 21.5%, and goods vehicles 20.8%. This marks a clear departure from previous years. Until 2023, heavy vehicles firmly held second place. In that year, out of 772 fatal crashes, private cars accounted for 23.8%, goods vehicles were at 23.6%, and scooters and motorcycles trailed at 20%.
Factors Driving the Change
The shift indicates that risk is moving away from vehicle size and towards exposure and driving behavior. Officials attribute the decline in heavy vehicle involvement to restrictions on non-destined trucks entering Delhi, particularly during pollution-control periods under CAQM orders. "We continue to follow CAQM orders. Diverting such vehicles via the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways saves time, reduces congestion, and lowers accident risk," said Dinesh Kumar Gupta, additional CP (traffic). He noted that this year, 97,491 vehicles were checked in January, 58,917 in February, and 30,440 until March 15.
However, the space left by fewer trucks is quickly filled by two-wheelers. At signals, on flyovers, and along inner roads, scooters and motorcycles form a constant stream, weaving through traffic and occupying narrow gaps. "While two-wheelers are among the most vulnerable road users, they are often violators too," Gupta added, highlighting efforts to use technology for more effective enforcement.
Expert Insights on Rising Two-Wheeler Risks
S P Singh, senior fellow and coordinator at the Indian Foundation of Transport Research and Training, explained, "While better infrastructure has reduced the entry of heavy transport vehicles in the city, driving behavior within Delhi has not improved. Negligent driving persists, which is why these vehicles still rank among the top contributors to fatal crashes."
He further noted, "Two-wheelers have surged due to easier loan access. With rising numbers, violations by e-scooters and motorcycles have increased. The irony is they are both frequent violators and among the most vulnerable, often ending up as fatalities."
Other Vehicle Categories in Focus
Meanwhile, buses, despite carrying a large number of daily commuters, account for a much smaller share of fatal crashes. Their involvement has remained under 5% in recent years, dropping to around 3.9% in both 2024 and 2025.
E-rickshaws, once a marginal presence, accounted for 3.9% of fatal crashes in 2025. Fatal crashes involving e-rickshaws have more than tripled over five years, rising from 10 in 2021 to 36 in 2025. These vehicles operate in tight, mixed-traffic conditions where movement is less predictable, adding to vehicle density and increasing the frequency of risky interactions.
Conclusion: A Call for Enhanced Safety Measures
The data underscores a critical need for targeted interventions to address the growing menace of two-wheeler accidents in Delhi. As the city's traffic dynamics evolve, authorities must prioritize improving driving behavior and implementing stricter enforcement to curb violations and reduce fatalities on the roads.
