JK grapples with road safety crisis: Over 4000 lives lost in 28500 crashes since 2020

Posted by admin_kas on 2025-12-11 10:00:25 |

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Suhail Khan

Srinagar, Dec 10: Jammu and Kashmir has recorded 28,510 road accidents, resulting in 4,031 fatalities, over the five-year period from 2020 to 2024. This official data, presented to Parliament on Wednesday, reveals a severe road safety crisis in the union territory.

According to figures accessed by Kashmir Convener, the annual toll has remained alarmingly high, with excessive speed consistently emerging as the primary killer.

The accident count rose from 4,860 in 2020 to a peak of 6,298 in 2023, before a marginal decline to 5,808 last year. Fatalities followed a similar trajectory, increasing from 728 in 2020 to 893 in 2023, and then dipping to 831 in 2024.

A staggering 27,195 accidents—over 95% of the total—were directly attributed to over-speeding, resulting in 3,956 deaths. Data indicates speeding-related crashes rose from 4,821 in 2020 to 5,990 in 2022, before decreasing to 5,367 in 2024.

The statistics also highlight other grave violations. Cases of overloading and dangerous travel by passengers hanging onto vehicles surged from 207 in 2020 to 361 in 2024. Fatalities from these offenses saw a dramatic five-fold increase, from 37 to 195 in the same period.

Widespread disregard for basic safety measures contributed significantly to the death toll. Failure to use seatbelts claimed 804 lives, while not wearing helmets led to 290 fatalities. Furthermore, 460 accidents were caused by unlicensed drivers.

Authorities cite a multi-pronged approach in response. Officials stated that measures under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 are being enforced, including enhanced penalties, computerized licensing, and stricter monitoring to curb underage driving.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways as per Kashmir Convener reported completing safety audits for over 100,000 kilometers of highways since 2019-20 and is using an Electronic Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR) platform to identify and remedy accident black spots.

On the ground, senior police officials pointed to a combination of factors. Senior Superintendent of Police Traffic Rural Kashmir Ravinder Paul Singh speaking with Kashmir Convener identified "reckless driving, overspeeding, poor road conditions in certain areas, and inadequate enforcement" as key challenges. He stated that nearly 40% of crashes were concentrated in the Jammu, Udhampur, Samba, and Kathua districts.

SSP (Traffic) emphasized intensified enforcement in rural zones, focusing on violations and preventing minors from driving.

"We are engaging with educational institutions to instill traffic discipline from an early age," he said, adding that chronic offenders face stringent action, including potential suspension of licenses and vehicle registration.

Another senior traffic police officer informed Kashmir Convener that the Jammu & Kashmir Traffic Police has intensified enforcement measures and launched awareness campaigns across the Union Territory.

"We are taking all possible steps to address the rise in road accidents," he said. "Public cooperation is essential, and we urge everyone to follow traffic rules and drive responsibly. Only together can we reduce these incidents. Everyone must play their part—not only by obeying traffic regulations but also by making personal safety a priority. Once this mindset is embraced by all, we can collectively prevent road accidents."

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir administration acknowledges that a sustainable solution requires an integrated strategy beyond enforcement.

Sources close to the Transport Minister said that plans are underway to "create an effective institutional mechanism" and "promote awareness among key decision-makers and departments responsible for safer road infrastructure."