This year 526 pedestrians were killed and 1,698 injured in road accidents. Delhi Traffic Police data shows pedestrians as the most vulnerable group in fatal road crashes, underlining the need to take corrective measures.
In 2021, 1,536 pedestrians were injured, of whom 1,269 were men and 267 women. Of the 504 pedestrians killed, 446 were males and 58 females. A year later, there was an increase in pedestrian victims, with a total of 1,777 (1,413 men and 364 women) suffering injuries. The number of fatalities also went up to 629 (553 males, 76 females). Till date in 2023, there has been a small decrease since last year both in people injured and killed.
“Data shows a distinct pattern of pedestrian accidents based on time of day,” said SS Yadav, special commissioner of police, Traffic. “In 2021, there were 262 fatalities in daylight hours and 242 at night. The pattern shifted in 2022, when 301 fatalities were recorded during the day and 328 at night. Subsequently, in 2023, the statistics show 240 fatalities during daytime and 284 in the night hours.”
Spatial analysis carried out by the traffic police, part of Delhi Police’s Delhi Crash Report 2022 released on Tuesday, identified 117 crash-prone zones in 2022, based on the criteria of three or more fatal crashes within a diameter of 500 metres or ten or more total road crashes on the same stretch. Ring Road (25 accidents), GT Karnal Road (17) and Outer Ring Road (15) suffered the maximum number of road crashes.
Delhi’s urban landscape has areas characterised by an elevated propensity for accidents involving vulnerable road users, notably pedestrians and two-wheelers. Pedestrians face heightened exposure to risks at Britania Chowk, the proximity of GB Pant Hospital, Peera Garhi and the surroundings of metro stations in Madipur. In 2021, Shastri Park (15 accidents), Harnam Palace in Ashok Nagar (12) and Peera Garhi Chowk (9) were determined to have a notable incidence of accidents.
According to the crash report, 81% of the accident victims were pedestrians and two-wheeler riders. Head injuries were the leading cause of death and major injuries for two-wheeler users. In 2022, a total of 2,12,440 riders and 44,475 pillion riders were prosecuted by the traffic police for not using helmets, recording a more than 100% growth in riders and pillion riders prosecuted for not using helmets compared with 91,036 riders and 16,724 pillion riders prosecuted in 2021.
Yadav said, “Since pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists are the most vulnerable users of the roads, the focus will continue to be on road safety measures for these groups. It will also mean prosecuting riders not using helmets and creating awareness about helmets, zebra crossings, subways, encroachment-free safe pedestrian walkways and footpaths. Delhi Traffic Police has recommended design interventions at crash-prone locations to reduce fatalities.”
