In the first half of 2025, a total of 26,770 people lost their lives in road accidents on National Highways (NHs) across India, as per data presented by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in Parliament. The data was submitted in response to a query from MP Dr. Sasmit Patra and is based on entries made by various States and Union Territories on the eDAR (electronic Detailed Accident Report) Portal as of July 17, 2025.
Targeting Black Spots: Long-Term Measures to Reduce Highway Fatalities
Comparing with previous years, the death toll was 53,372 in 2023 and 52,609 in 2024, indicating that road fatalities continue to be a major concern. To address this, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has been focusing on identifying and correcting accident-prone “black spots.” So far, 8,542 black spots have undergone short-term fixes, 3,144 locations have seen long-term interventions, and 3,322 spots were found to require no further major corrective measures.
Gadkari explained that long-term rectifications include road geometry improvement, junction redesigns, carriageway widening, and constructing underpasses or overpasses. However, these changes require pre-construction processes such as land acquisition, forest clearances, and utility shifting, which naturally involve significant timelines.
AI and Smart Systems Drive Road Safety on Highways
In addition to physical improvements, the government is leveraging technology and AI-based enforcement to boost road safety. Rules issued in August 2021 have enabled the use of Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) and AI-based Video Incident Detection and Enforcement Systems (VIDES) to monitor high-risk and high-traffic areas more effectively.
These smart systems are already active on major routes like the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, Eastern Peripheral Expressway, and Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, integrated with platforms like Rajmarg Yatra, NHAI One App, and e-challan systems, reflecting a multi-pronged strategy to reduce road fatalities and enhance traffic discipline.
Summary:
In the first half of 2025, 26,770 road accident deaths occurred on Indian national highways. The government is addressing black spots through short- and long-term measures and using AI-based systems like ATMS and VIDES for enforcement. These efforts aim to reduce fatalities and improve traffic safety across high-risk corridors.
