Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): In 2022, Madhya Pradesh reported 13,000 deaths in road accidents which are 8% of the total fatalities reported across the country, road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
As many as 1.78 lakh people are killed in road accidents annually in the country and 60 per cent of the victims are in the age group of 18-34 years, said the minister during the Question Hour. The minister said "One unfortunate fact is that of the 1.78 lakh people dying in road accidents, 60 per cent are in the age group of 18 to 34 years. Still there is no fear of law. Some do not wear helmets, some jump red signals," he said, adding that it was a "strange" situation.
Responding to supplementaries, the Union minister said while Uttar Pradesh leads in deaths due to road accidents, in cities, Delhi tops the chart in such deaths. In Uttar Pradesh, over 23,000 people or 13.7 % of the total deaths are due to road accidents followed by Tamil Nadu with over 18,000 10.6 % deaths.
In Maharashtra, the figure stands at over 15,000 or 9% of the total deaths, followed by Madhya Pradesh with over 13,000, 8% deaths. He lamented that people do not fear the law and many drive two-wheelers without helmets and some jump the red signal.
