State Sees 8% Drop in Road Deaths in January 2026 After Safety Measures

Road safety measures implemented by the state Transport Department are showing positive results, with an 8.05 percent decline in accidental deaths recorded in January 2026.

In January 2025, the state reported 1,427 accidental deaths. This number fell to 1,312 in January 2026, a reduction of 115 deaths. Similarly, the total number of accidents dropped by 2 percent, from 3,164 to 3,100.

Several districts reported a significant decline in fatalities due to road safety initiatives. Nandurbar recorded a 50 percent reduction, Solapur city and Washim each saw a 36 percent drop, Sindhudurg 29 percent, Wardha 28 percent, Dharashiv 24 percent, Gondia and Amravati (rural) 22 percent each, and Nanded and Nagpur city 21 percent each.

With a target of reducing accidents by 50 percent by 2030, the Transport Department has taken multiple steps. Road Safety Cells have been established at both state and district levels, and separate road safety plans are being prepared and implemented for each district. Improvements are being carried out at identified accident-prone “black spots.”

To take strict action against traffic violators, 332 enforcement teams are operating across the state. Large-scale enforcement drives are being conducted using radar and interceptor vehicles. Authorities have registered 89,651 cases of drivers not wearing helmets, 13,348 cases of pillion riders without helmets, 8,520 cases of overspeeding, and 8,024 cases of drivers not wearing seat belts. Action has also been taken against illegal PUC certificates, uninsured vehicles, and triple riding. AI and radar technology are being used to enforce helmet and seat belt compliance.

To ensure vehicles are technically fit, 53 government and 13 private Automated Vehicle Inspection Stations (ATS) are being launched. Additionally, 38 Automated Driving Test Tracks (ADTT) will be introduced to ensure that only skilled drivers receive licenses. The state has also decided to implement a modern Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) on nearly 25,000 kilometers of roads. The department claims that after the implementation of this system on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, accidents have reduced by 19 percent.

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