Bengaluru tops country in pedestrian deaths for second year

Overall, Bengaluru registered 4,980 accidents in 2023, a 30.3% increase from 3,822 in 2022. Karnataka, too, witnessed a rise, with 43,439 accidents in 2023 compared to 39,765 in 2022 — an increase of 9.2%.

Bengaluru: Bengaluru’s roads were the deadliest for pedestrians in 2023, with the city recording 292 pedestrian deaths — the highest in the country — for the second year in a row.

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report on accidental deaths and suicides in India for 2023 revealed that the pedestrian deaths were a part of the 915 fatalities from road accidents. Bengaluru also saw 1021 pedestrian injuries. Ahmedabad followed with 236 pedestrian deaths, while Jaipur recorded 201. In 2022, Bengaluru had reported 247 pedestrian deaths.

Overall, Bengaluru registered 4,980 accidents in 2023, a 30.3 per cent increase from 3,822 in 2022. Karnataka, too, witnessed a rise, with 43,439 accidents in 2023 compared to 39,765 in 2022 — an increase of 9.2 per cent. The state recorded 52,547 injuries and 12,322 deaths.

Of Bengaluru’s 915 road fatalities, two-wheelers accounted for 55 per cent, followed by pedestrians at 32 per cent, autorickshaws at 3 per cent, and cars at 5 per cent. Overspeeding caused 64 per cent of road accidents nationally. Bengaluru alone accounted for 9 per cent of the total road accidents across 53 surveyed cities.

In Bengaluru Urban, 838 accidents were reported. Of these, 188 occurred in residential areas, 66 near educational institutions, 42 at pedestrian crossings, and 55 in industrial areas.

Prioritise footpaths and skywalks: DG&IGP 

MA Saleem, Karnataka's Director General and Inspector General of Police, called the trend “unfortunate” and urged stronger focus on pedestrian safety.

"Over the years, footpaths and pedestrian safety have not been prioritised enough; however, that is slowly changing now. With newer infrastructure like TenderSURE roads, pedestrian safety has become a top priority. Such infrastructure, while available in the Central Business District (CBD), is not seen much on the outskirts. In many areas there are either no footpaths or the footpaths remain encroached. Providing good footpaths everywhere must be prioritised,” he said.

Saleem added that more skywalks with elevators should be built at busy junctions. “To ensure utmost safety, everyone involved needs to pitch in, including the public. There must be awareness among the public to refrain from overspeeding and flouting the law,” he said.