Meghalaya recorded 246 road accidents in 2022 and the number of people killed in these road mishaps was 162.
This was revealed in the “Annual Report on ‘Road Accidents in India-2022” published by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on October 31.
Amongst the states, Tamil Nadu with 64,105 accidents (13.9 per cent) recorded the highest number of road accidents in 2022 followed by Madhya Pradesh (54,432 i.e., 11.8 per cent). Uttar Pradesh (22,595 i.e., 13.4 per cent) topped the states in respect of the number of deaths due to road accidents followed by Tamil Nadu (17,884 i.e., 10.6 per cent).
Among the North East states, Assam recorded the highest number of accidents during 2018 and 2022. In 2022, Assam recorded 7023 cases of road accidents. Tripura with 575 accidents was in second place followed by Manipur (508).
The report also stated that the number of road accidents had increased in 2022 over 2021 in Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura. In Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Nagaland there was a decrease in accidents in 2022 as compared to 2021.
“The total number of accident deaths had increased from 1,53,972 in 2021 to 1,68,491 in 2022, registering an increase of 9.4 per cent over the previous year. All states except Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Andaman & Nicobar and Chandigarh, recorded an increase in fatalities during 2022 compared to the same period in 2021,” the report said.
The report underscores the urgency of adopting a comprehensive approach to address the contributing factors to these accidents, including speeding, reckless driving, drunken driving, and non-compliance with traffic regulations. It is crucial that we strengthen enforcement mechanisms, enhance driver education and training programs, and invest in improving the condition of roads and vehicles.
The “Road Accidents in India-2022” report serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders in the realm of road safety.
It offers in-depth insights into various aspects of road accidents, including their causes, locations, and their impact on different categories of road users.
The report also sheds light on emerging trends, challenges, and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ road safety initiatives.
“As the road accidents are multi-causal in nature, requiring a multi-pronged approach to mitigate the problems through concerted efforts of all agencies at both Central government and state governments. The Ministry, along with various other related organisations as well as stakeholders has formulated a multi-pronged strategy to address the issue of road safety focusing on all 4Es including Education, Engineering (both roads and vehicles), Enforcement and Emergency Care,” the report said.
