Telangana Ranks Ninth in Road-Related Deaths

Source: Deccan Chronicle

Relevance:
TGPSC Road Safety, Transport Governance, Public Health

Important Key Concepts for Prelims and Mains:

For Prelims:

Road accidents, Black spots, 4Es of Road Safety, ANPR cameras, Road Safety Fund, National Highways, State Highways

For Mains:

Road safety governance, Accident black spots, Youth mortality, Emergency trauma care, Traffic enforcement, Infrastructure planning, Behavioural change

Why in News?

Telangana has ranked eighth in road accidents and ninth in road-related deaths on National Highways, highlighting a growing public safety crisis. Data from the Transport Department shows that road accidents continue to claim 18–20 lives daily across the State.

Scale of the Road Safety Problem in Telangana

In 2025 (up to October), Telangana recorded 22,441 road accidents, resulting in 6,221 deaths.
In 2024, the State reported 25,986 accidents, causing 7,949 fatalities and injuries to over 23,600 people. These figures place a heavy social and economic burden on families and public health systems.

Who Are the Most Affected?

Young adults are the worst hit. Nearly 68% of accident victims are aged between 18 and 45 years, with the 26–45 age group alone accounting for 51% of deaths. This disproportionately affects the most productive segment of the population, leading to long-term economic and social consequences.

Accident Hotspots and Highway Risks

National and State Highways account for a large share of fatal accidents, particularly at black spots. A black spot is defined as a 500-metre stretch recording over five accidents or ten deaths.
In 2024, Telangana identified 936 black spots, including 656 on National Highways, 117 on State Highways, and 163 on other roads.

Trends in Accident Severity

While total accidents and deaths have increased, the severity of accidents (deaths per 100 accidents) declined from 33 in 2023 to 31 in 2024. Authorities attribute this improvement to better trauma care and faster emergency response, though overall fatalities remain high.

Vehicle Growth and Infrastructure Stress

Vehicle registration in Telangana has surged by over 140% in a decade, rising from 71 lakh vehicles in 2014 to more than 1.8 crore in 2025. Two-wheelers dominate this growth, followed by cars and transport vehicles, with nearly nine lakh vehicles added annually, intensifying pressure on road infrastructure.

Government Measures for Road Safety

Adoption of 4Es Strategy:

Education
Enforcement
Engineering
Emergency care

Key initiatives:

Awareness campaigns on:
Helmet use
Seat belts
Speed control
Responsible driving
Installation of:
ANPR cameras
e-challan systems

Phase-I electronic enforcement:

100 accident-prone locations
Focus on:
- - Hyderabad
  - Nalgonda
  - Sangareddy

Expert Insights and Way Forward

Road safety experts stress that U-turns, intersections, and junctions are major accident hotspots. A data-driven, continuous approach—rather than periodic drives—is essential to prevent accidents through better design, enforcement, and behavioural change.

Conclusion

Telangana’s road safety challenge reflects a wider national crisis, with India witnessing around 400 road accident deaths daily. While improved emergency care has reduced accident severity, rising vehicle numbers and hazardous road design continue to fuel fatalities. Sustained, data-driven governance and coordinated action across departments are crucial to making Telangana’s roads safer for all citizens.

CARE MCQ

Q. Automatic Number Plate Reader (ANPR) cameras, recently used in highway tolling systems, are primarily installed to:

(a) Track vehicle movement using satellite navigation signals
(b) Deduct toll charges by identifying vehicle number plates through image processing
(c) Enable radio-frequency communication between vehicles and toll plazas
(d) Calculate toll based on fuel consumption and vehicle category

Answer: (b) Deduct toll charges by identifying vehicle number plates through image processing

Explanation:

ANPR cameras are installed on highways to capture images of moving vehicles.
They recognize vehicle registration numbers using image processing techniques.
This information is used to identify vehicles and deduct toll charges, especially in barrier-less tolling systems.