8% Decline in Road Accident Deaths in the State

Mumbai, Feb 25: The state has recorded a significant reduction in road accident fatalities, reflecting the positive impact of sustained road safety measures implemented by the Transport Department. In January 2026, road accident deaths declined by 8.05 percent compared to the same period last year. While 1,427 people lost their lives in road accidents in January 2025, the number came down to 1,312 in January 2026—marking a reduction of 115 deaths. Similarly, the total number of accidents decreased by 2 percent, from 3,164 to 3,100.

Due to focused road safety interventions, several districts have reported a notable fall in fatality rates. Nandurbar recorded a 50 percent reduction in deaths, followed by Solapur city and Washim with 36 percent each. Sindhudurg saw a 29 percent decline, Wardha 28 percent, Dharashiv 24 percent, Gondia and Amravati (rural) 22 percent each, while Nanded and Nagpur city registered a 21 percent decrease each.

With the objective of reducing road accidents by 50 percent by the year 2030, the Transport Department has rolled out multiple initiatives across the state. Road Safety Cells have been established at both state and district levels, and dedicated road safety action plans are being prepared and implemented for each district. Improvements are also being carried out at accident-prone ‘black spots’.

For strict enforcement against traffic violations, 332 enforcement teams are operational across the state. Using radar and interceptor vehicles, large-scale penal action is being undertaken. Action has been taken against 89,651 drivers riding without helmets, 13,348 pillion riders without helmets, 8,520 cases of overspeeding, and 8,024 drivers not wearing seatbelts. Enforcement has also been carried out against invalid PUC certificates, lack of valid insurance, and triple riding. AI and radar-based technologies are being increasingly used to ensure strict compliance with helmet and seatbelt regulations.

To ensure that vehicles remain roadworthy, 53 government-run and 13 private automated vehicle testing stations (ATS) are being made operational. Additionally, 38 automated driving test tracks (ADTT) will be introduced to ensure that only skilled drivers are issued licenses. The state has also decided to install an Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) across nearly 25,000 kilometers of roads. The department claims that after the implementation of ITMS on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, road accidents there have reduced by 19 percent.

To provide immediate medical care to accident victims during the critical ‘golden hour’, the Central Government’s ‘PM Rahat’ scheme has been implemented in the state. Under this scheme, eligible accident victims will receive cashless treatment for up to seven days, with coverage up to ₹1.5 lakh. In case of an accident, citizens can dial 112 to access ambulance services and information about the nearest hospital. A provision has also been made to reward ‘Jeevandoot’ volunteers who assist accident victims with an incentive of ₹25,000.

According to the Transport Department, technology-driven enforcement, strict action against violations, and continuous public awareness campaigns are yielding positive results in reducing road accident fatalities. The state is steadily progressing towards its goal of halving road accidents by 2030, said Additional Transport Commissioner Bharat Kalaskar.