Road accidents remain outside the ambit of India’s disaster management framework, weakening the urgency of response. It is time to treat road safety as a national priority, anchored in science, governance reforms, and adhering to principles of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
India has been struggling with the menace of road accidents for a long time, an issue that has grown into one of the most serious public health and development crises of our time. A recent news item, published in The Pioneer on August 29, 2025, titled India Tops Global Road Accident Deaths, highlighted that in 2023 alone, India witnessed over 4.8 lakh road accidents, resulting in more than 1.72 lakh fatalities — an alarming average of 20 deaths every hour. This amounts to an average of twenty fatalities every hour. Even more concerning is that nearly two-thirds of the victims were aged between 18 and 45 — the most active segment of society and often the breadwinners for their households.
The information depicts a bleak scenario. India, representing roughly 1 per cent of the global vehicle count, contributes to nearly 11 per cent of worldwide road fatalities, positioning its roads among the most perilous globally. Reasons are diverse — reckless driving, excessive speed, driving under the influence, inadequate road design, weak enforcement of traffic regulations, insufficient emergency response, and lack of public awareness. Included in this are systemic issues like insufficient coordination between agencies, absence of data-informed planning, and inadequate incorporation of technology.
These events are not merely unfortunate occurrences; they represent the most severe type of human-induced disaster in India. They seize young lives, destroy families, hinder livelihoods, and diminish national productivity. Nevertheless, ironically, road accidents are not distinctly classified as disasters according to the regulations of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Due to their scale, frequency, and impact on people, this oversight diminishes the urgency of tackling them in the national disaster management system. It is crucial to reshape road safety as a key focus for disaster risk reduction, and the most effective method to do this is by coordinating India's approach with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR). The SFDRR, supported by the United Nations, highlights four priority areas that can act as the foundation of an all-encompassing strategy to lower road accident hazards.
Understanding Disaster Risk
The foundation of any strategy is rooted in understanding the extent and characteristics of the problem. Ensuring road safety demands strong, immediate, and evidence-based data gathering. India should progress past antiquated records and disjointed statistics to create a unified road safety data system that incorporates information from police, hospitals, transport departments, and local agencies.
In this context, tools such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing can accurately identify accident hotspots. By overlaying traffic patterns, road conditions, land usage, and population data, officials can pinpoint high-risk areas and prioritise measures.
Public awareness is equally crucial. Campaigns must be consistent, data-informed, and focused, especially on young audiences, rather than being seasonal or merely symbolic.
Disaster Risk Governance
A major obstacle in India is the fragmented management of road safety. Responsibilities are dispersed among transport departments, law enforcement, local authorities, and the healthcare sector, often leading to unclear accountability. Effective risk reduction requires organisational cohesion and strong legal backing.
Establishing a National Road Safety Authority, legally authorised and responsible for results, could provide essential integration. Governance should also encompass state and district levels, with disaster management agencies considering road accidents as a fundamental responsibility.
Here again, technology can strengthen governance. AI-driven traffic surveillance systems can detect violations in real time — whether it is speeding, lane violations, or running red lights — and initiate automatic fines. This diminishes corruption, guarantees consistent implementation, and fosters deterrence. Likewise, a blockchain-based system can improve transparency in vehicle registration and licensing, reducing fraudulent activities.
Global instances emphasise the significance of robust governance. Sweden's Vision Zero succeeded not solely due to technology but because the government dedicated itself to the principle that "no loss of life is acceptable" as a national principle.
Disaster Risk Reduction
A significant factor contributing to road accidents in India is the hazardous design of roads and vehicles. Excessive speed on badly designed highways, absence of pedestrian amenities, poor signage, and inadequate lighting inherently render Indian roads unsafe. Consequently, investment in sensitive risk infrastructure is vital.
Roads should be designed with safety prioritised — segregating traffic flows, ensuring secure pedestrian crossings, and implementing intelligent traffic management systems (ITMS) that adjust to traffic and weather changes. GIS and remote sensing aid in road design by considering terrain, land use, and environmental hazards.
Simultaneously, there is a pressing need to enhance emergency response systems. Numerous accident victims perish not because of the accident itself, but due to holdups in receiving medical care — the "golden hour" is missed. India should allocate funds for AI-driven emergency call systems, automated accident detection in vehicles, and real-time tracking of ambulances. Drone technology can be utilised to swiftly evaluate accident sites in isolated or crowded locations, guaranteeing quicker triage.
Investments must prioritise public transportation and non-motorised movement, decreasing reliance on dangerous two-wheelers that lead to most road fatalities in India.
Preparedness for Effective Response
Preparedness extends beyond emergency response. It involves enhancing the capabilities of communities, institutions, and systems to foresee and handle road safety hazards efficiently. Educational programmes should incorporate road safety instruction from a young age, cultivating a generation of mindful road users. Programmes for workplace safety should also focus on employees, particularly within the transport and logistics sectors.
Technology once more provides creative avenues. Simulators that utilise AI can aid in driver training, allowing individuals to encounter realistic situations prior to driving. Applications offering instantaneous traffic and hazard notifications can enable travellers to make more secure decisions.
The concept of "Build Back Better" is equally relevant to road safety. Following each accident, insights must inform design enhancements — such as redesigning dangerous intersections, improving signage, or implementing more rigorous testing protocols for drivers. Community involvement is essential in this context, as nearby residents frequently understand their hazardous areas better than remote planners do. Worldwide, use of AI-driven traffic monitoring and Sweden's strategic changes under Vision Zero demonstrate that readiness ought to be proactive, data-driven, and flexible.
Road Safety Driven by Science
Road accidents in India are more than mere figures — they symbolise a quiet catastrophe that takes more lives each year than numerous natural disasters together. However, in contrast to cyclones or earthquakes, this calamity can be avoided. By categorising road accidents as a form of disaster and implementing the four priorities of the Sendai Framework systematically, India can develop a strong, science-based, and compassionate approach.
Science and technology — ranging from GIS mapping and AI monitoring to drone evaluations and predictive analysis — have the potential to change how we plan, oversee, and utilise roads.
However, technology by itself is not enough. It must be integrated into governance reforms, legal structures, cultural transformations, and ongoing investments. Japan's implementation of AI for live traffic monitoring demonstrates the strength of creativity. India possesses the necessity and ability to carve its own route towards safer roads, driven by its demographic dividend and digital transformation.
The time has come to declare that no life lost on the road is acceptable. Only then can India truly transform its highways from death traps into lifelines of progress.
Satendra Singh is former Executive Director of the National Institute of Disaster Management and Tanushree is Doctoral Fellow, Amity University