The ‘Road Accidents in India – 2021’ report by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways highlights 4,12,432 road accidents, 1,53,972 fatalities, and 3,84,448 injuries in a single year. Notably, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh among all Indian states have recorded the highest number of accidents.

However, on a national level, two wheelers are found to have reportedly caused 43% of the accidents whereas bicycles and other non-motorized modes of transport are found to have reportedly caused a little over 2% of the accidents each.

The data further reveals that Jharkhand witnessed a high number of road accidents (4,728) during this period.

Incidents of different categories of vehicles getting involved in Road accidents as impacting vehicle

In Jharkhand, road accidents in 2021 were primarily dominated by two-wheelers as impacting vehicle, totaling 1,605 incidents. Car, including taxis, vans, and LMVs, followed with 742 accidents. Pedestrians accounted for 680 accidents.  Trucks and Lorries contributed to 550 accidents, On the other hand, bicycles, public transport like auto-rickshaw and bus, and other non-motorized transport were involved in comparatively less number of accidents ranging between 113-366.

Persons Killed in Road Accidents in Terms of Road User Categories in 2021

In Jharkhand, two-wheeler users had the highest fatalities at 1,317 which is more than one-third of the total deaths. Users of cars, including taxis and LMVs, followed this toll with 561 fatalities. 496 pedestrians died in road accidents whereas that associated with rucks and lorries contributed to 332 fatalities..  On the other hand, users of public transport and non-motorized vehicles were found to be less vulnerable with deaths of users of non-motorized vehicle, buses, bicycle and auto rickshaws to be 33, 90, 137 and 253 respectiviely.

Accidental death of pedestrians with different Impact Vehicles

In accidents with pedestrians as victims, two-wheelers caused the most casualties (115). Trucks and lorries followed this with 110 casualties, stressing pedestrian safety around heavy vehicles. Car occupants caused 100 casualties, emphasizing safety needs in car-related pedestrian accidents.

On the other hand, public transport and non-motorized vehicles proved to be much safer in this regard. Auto rickshaws caused 65 casualties, Buses led to 30 casualties, while other non-motorized vehicles and bicycles caused 7 and 4 casualties respectively.

Observation

Analyzing road accident patterns in Jharkhand for 2021, it is evident that two-wheeler users face the highest accident risks. Car occupants are the second-highest contributors to accidents, emphasizing the dangers associated with motorized two-wheelers and four-wheeler incidents.

Pedestrians are significantly vulnerable, highlighting the imperative for better pedestrian safety measures. Trucks and lorries play a substantial role in accidents. Auto rickshaws and the “Others” category both pose safety concerns.

The notably lower number of bicycle and public transport-related accidents presents a positive aspect, indicating that cycling and public transport are safer mode of transport. Encouraging cycling could potentially reduce accident risks. .

Conclusion

In conclusion, the data reveals the significant role of bicycles and public transport in promoting road safety, with lower accident-related deaths, highlighting their potential as a safer and eco-friendly mode of transportation. This highlights their potential as a safe and environmentally friendly mode of transportation. Simultaneously, it underscores the imperative of implementing precisely tailored safety measures for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, while addressing the associated risks within other road user categories, with the overarching goal of comprehensively reducing accidents and fatalities.

Reference

ROAD ACCIDENTS IN INDIA 2021. (2022). www.morth.nic.in. Retrieved November 6, 2023, from https://morth.nic.in/sites/default/files/RA_2021_Compressed.pdf