Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed 9,070 fatalities in road accidents in a decade with the people aged between 18-45 years most affected.
This data was revealed by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Jairam Gadkari in Parliament as part of a nationwide review of road safety in response to a query.
He said that the fatalities were most prominent in the age group of 18-45 years, which accounted for nearly 60% of the deaths during the period.
He said that in the age group of 14-17 years, around 7% of fatalities were recorded which depicts involvement of underage and inexperienced drivers. For persons aged above 45, approximately 25% of the deaths occurred which shows the need for heightened safety awareness across all age brackets.
The Minister said that two-wheelers accounted for the highest number of fatalities in J&K, followed by light motor vehicles such as cars and SUVs with heavy vehicles like trucks and buses also contributed significantly. Pedestrians and cyclists were not spared, with many losing their lives due to inadequate infrastructure and driver negligence.
He also said that the majority of accidents occurred during daylight hours, contrary to the assumption that night driving is more dangerous which indicates the need for constant vigilance and safer driving practices throughout the day.
The Minister said that the government is committed to reduce road accident fatalities by 50% by 2030, aligning with global commitments under the Stockholm Declaration on Road Safety.
He said that the “4 Es” strategy—Education, Engineering, Enforcement, and Emergency care is the framework for addressing these challenges in J&K.
He further said that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has initiated accident-prone area audits, installation of safety signages, and awareness campaigns targeting high-risk groups. Stricter enforcement of the Motor Vehicles Act, 2019, is also being implemented to ensure better compliance with road safety regulations.
The Minister said that J&K’s difficult terrains and rapidly increasing vehicle numbers exacerbate road safety risks. Collaboration with local authorities, enhanced infrastructure, and public participation are important to address these issues, he said.
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