Increase in Road Accidents in India: 2025 Statistics Revealed
Rising Road Accident Rates in India
A representational image from an accident site. (Photo: @ians_india/X)
New Delhi, Jul 30: The number of road accidents in India saw a 5.3% increase in 2025, resulting in over 5.13 lakh incidents that led to 1,83,382 fatalities, averaging 21 deaths per hour, as reported to the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
In a written statement, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, disclosed that police departments across various states and Union Territories documented 5,13,563 road accidents throughout the year.
He highlighted that speeding was a significant contributor to these accidents, causing 82,124 incidents, which is approximately 16% of the total reported cases in 2025.
Tamil Nadu topped the list with the highest number of road accidents at 71,387, while Uttar Pradesh recorded the most fatalities, totaling 27,550.
Data presented in Parliament indicated that improper lane usage and driving on the wrong side resulted in 4,089 accidents. Additionally, running red lights was responsible for 276 accidents, and distracted driving due to mobile phone use was linked to 136 incidents.
Gadkari also mentioned that in the first half of 2026, 2,85,770 road accidents had already been reported, underscoring the ongoing challenge of road safety.
In response to another inquiry, the minister noted a steady rise in the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), attributed to their lower operational costs and zero emissions compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.
According to VAHAN data, the penetration of EVs grew from 0.71% in 2019-20 to 8.26% in 2025-26. As of July 26, 2026, India boasts over 1 crore registered electric vehicles across various categories, bringing the total EV count to 1,00,23,396.
Regarding highway infrastructure, Gadkari stated that the government has successfully monetized road assets worth Rs 1,72,898 crore through various financing models, including Toll-Operate-Transfer (TOT) and Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT).
He added that between 2021-22 and 2025-26, 317 highway projects covering 11,711.81 km were awarded under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) and Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) frameworks, with a total capital expenditure of Rs 4,57,547.46 crore.
The minister emphasized that the upkeep and enhancement of National Highways (NHs) is a continuous effort. Approximately 11,500 km of highways reported poor conditions over the last three years and are prioritized for immediate maintenance.
Out of India's extensive 1.46 lakh-km National Highway network, around 36,000 km is currently under development, 58,000 km is under defect liability or concession periods, and 41,000 km is maintained through short-term and performance-based contracts.
Additionally, 4,000 km is being maintained by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Gadkari announced plans to maintain 20,000 km of National Highways in 2026-27 as part of the initiative to ensure regular maintenance across the entire NH network.
He also revealed that 21 contractors and concessionaires have been blacklisted or penalized in the past two years due to substandard work and violations related to tenders.