Night Hours Deadliest for Road Users in Delhi, Men Most Affected: Study

In 2022, Delhi witnessed a significant rise in road crash fatalities, with at least four people dying daily in preventable accidents, as reported by the Delhi government. The Transport Department's report highlighted that 50% of these victims were pedestrians, while 45% were drivers and passengers of two or three-wheelers.

The report, titled the 2022 Delhi Road Crash Fatalities Report, revealed that 1,571 individuals lost their lives in 1,517 fatal crashes last year. This marks a concerning 28% increase from the previous year. Vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, motorcyclists, cyclists, and auto rickshaw occupants, accounted for 97% of these deaths, which is significantly higher than the national average of 70.8%.

Hit-and-Run Incidents

Hit-and-run cases constituted a substantial portion of fatal crashes in Delhi. The report noted that 59% of all documented fatal road crashes were hit-and-run incidents. Among these cases, pedestrians were the most affected at 57%, followed by motorcyclists at 33%. The percentage of hit-and-run crashes remained consistent at 59% for both 2021 and 2022.

Heavy vehicles and light motor vehicles (LMVs) were responsible for 81% of all reported crashes where the impacting vehicle was identified. The report suggested that enhanced enforcement measures are needed in areas with frequent hit-and-run incidents to address this issue effectively.

Timing and Locations of Crashes

The analysis also examined the timing of these accidents. Many road crash deaths occurred between 9 pm and 2 am on most days of the week. This period is associated with higher speeds and a significant number of hit-and-run cases. Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays recorded the highest number of fatalities.

Geographically, the North District reported the highest number of fatal crashes and hit-and-run incidents, with 260 and 150 cases respectively. New Delhi and West districts followed closely behind. In contrast, the North East district had the fewest such incidents.

Demographic Insights

The report provided demographic insights into the fatalities. Men accounted for 89% of the deaths, while women made up the remaining 11%. The largest proportion of deaths occurred among men aged between 30 to 39 years.

Preventive Measures

The report emphasised several preventive measures to reduce deadly crashes. These include constructing more footpaths, shortening pedestrian crossing distances on roads, installing raised crosswalks, increasing public transport frequency, and addressing key risk factors such as speeding, riding without a properly clasped helmet, drunk driving, and failure to use seatbelts.

Overall, these findings underscore the urgent need for improved road safety measures in Delhi to protect vulnerable road users and reduce preventable fatalities.