Govt aims to reduce road accident deaths by 50% by 2030: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari

Road transport minister Nitin Gadkari reiterated that road safety is top-most priority of the government and the aim is to reduce accident deaths by 50% by 2030, saying increase in the number of road accidents and deaths results in socio-economic loss of 3.14 % to GDP.

“There has been an increase in road accidents by 12% and increase in road accidents deaths by 10% resulting in socio-economic loss of 3.14 % to GDP,” he said while addressing the CII National Conclave on road safety.

According to the minister, 60% of deaths are in the young age group of 18 to 35 years. “Accident death is a loss of bread-earner in a family, professional loss to employers and overall loss to the economy,” he added.


The minister is of the view that the change in social behaviour is very important along with focusing on strengthening ‘4Es of road safety’ - engineering (road & vehicle engineering), enforcement, education and emergency medical service.

“We can do this through cooperation of all stakeholders,” he said.

Quoting the recent report by the ministry of road transport and highways on road accidents in India in 2022, the minister said there have been 4.6 lakh road accidents, 1.68 lakh deaths and four lakh serious injuries. “Every hour there are 53 road accidents and 19 deaths,” he added.

Gadkari stressed on regular eye check-ups for drivers and asked the corporate sector to organise free camps for the same as part of their corporate social responsibility.

“Education and awareness among schools, colleges, collaboration with NGOs, start-ups, technology providers, IITs, universities and traffic & highway authorities is the way forward for spreading good practices for road safety,” he said.

Citing the case of Nagpur, Gadkari said the system of rewards for good traffic behaviour among citizens has yielded positive results in Nagpur.