Over 9 people not wearing helmets, seatbelts died daily in accidents in Gujarat in 5 yrs

More than 46% of road accident fatalities in Gujarat over the last five years happened to those not wearing helmets and seatbelts, while over-speeding emerged as the single largest killer, responsible for a staggering 94% of deaths, according to official data released by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).

Between 2020 and 2024, Gujarat recorded 36,811 road accident deaths across 76,272 accidents. Of these fatalities, 17,293 lives – nearly 47 per cent – were lost because two-wheeler riders did not wear helmets or car drivers failed to fasten their seatbelts.

The trend continued into 2024, the deadliest year in the period with 7,717 road deaths. In that year alone, 3,983 fatalities – over 50 per cent – were directly linked to non-usage of helmets or seatbelts.

Over-speeding proved even more lethal. A shocking 34,681 deaths (94 per cent of the total 36,811 fatalities) between 2020 and 2024 were attributed to excessive speed, making it by far the primary cause of road accident deaths in the state.

Overloading of vehicles and passengers hanging from overcrowded buses and goods carriers claimed an additional 1,793 lives during the five-year period, including 384 deaths in 2024 alone.

The number of road accidents in the state also saw a rise of over 15 per cent over five years, with 12,449 road accidents reported in 2020, which rose to 14,390 road mishaps in 2024.