Introduction

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. 

West Bengal too witnessed a high number of road accidents during this period, resulting in a tragic toll of 5800 fatalities in a single year. 

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

While individual commuters and associated motorized vehicles were responsible for more number of accidents in a range of 1400-5400, public transports like buses, auto rickshaws, and other non-motorized vehicles were linked to much lower number of incidents at 328, 149, and 40 accidents, respectively. 

Persons Killed in Road Accidents in terms of Road User categories in 2021

In 2021, West Bengal witnessed 5,800 road accident fatalities. Over 50% of the these deaths were of pedestrians, followed by users of four wheelers (677 deaths), Two wheelers (662 deaths) and Trucks/Lorries (548 deaths). Here again, users of public transports were found to be less vulnerable with 60 deaths associated with auto-rickshaws users and 119 deaths associated with commuters of bus.

Accidental death of pedestrians with different Impact Vehicles

Further exploration on death of pedestrians caused by different vehicles revealed that while in one hand the motorized two-wheelers caused death of 830 pedestrians, closely followed by such deaths caused by privately owned four wheelers and trucks/lorries, public transport on the other hand caused below 100 deaths (92 by bus and 22 by auto rickshaws) in the state. 

Notably, bicycles did not cause any recorded casualties in such accidents, emphasizing their comparatively lower risk factor in association with fatal accidents.

Observation

In a comprehensive analysis of road accidents and fatalities, it’s evident that cycles followed by public transport play a notably positive role in road safety, accounting for very few deaths compared to privately owned motorized vehicles. Their comparatively lower risk factor in accidents emphasizes the potential for cycling and inclination towards public transport as an eco-friendly and safer mode of transportation.

Among road users, pedestrians are highly vulnerable, emphasizing the need for better pedestrian safety. Motorized two-wheelers and cars contribute significantly to accidents and fatalities. Trucks and lorries cause a notable number of deaths, suggesting the need for stricter regulations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the data reveals the significance of bicycles and public transport in promoting road safety, with minimal accident-related deaths, highlighting their potential as a safer and eco-friendly mode of transportation. It also emphasizes the pressing need for tailored safety measures for vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, while addressing riskier categories to reduce accidents and fatalities comprehensively.

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