Himachal Pradesh witnessed significant reduction in road accidents and fatalities in the state during the year 2024 as compared to the previous year. Compared to the year 2023, road accidents in the state have decreased by 6.48 per cent. A total of 2107 accidents were reported in the year 2024 as against 2253 in the year 2023.

Fatalities also saw a notable decline, with 806 lives lost in the year 2024 compared to 892 in the year 2023. Additionally, the number of injuries also dropped from 3449 in the year 2023 to 3290 in the year 2024.

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Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, said, “The decline in road accidents and fatalities is a testament to the collective efforts of the government, the law enforcement agencies and awakened citizens. ,Over the past two years, the state Government has undertaken several initiatives to save the valuable lives.”

The present state government has launched targeted awareness campaigns to promote responsible driving behaviour, improved the road infrastructure and implemented safety measures at accident prone areas. It has also strengthened the enforcement of traffic regulations and has enhanced the emergency response system to ensure timely medical assistance to the accident victims.

\This achievement is particularly commendable when viewed against the national backdrop. In 2023, India witnessed a rise in road accidents and fatalities with nearly 1.73 lakh deaths and approximately 4.63 lakh injuries reported, marking record highs. This translates to an average of 474 fatalities daily or one life lost every three minutes. The official statistics for road accidents in India for the year 2024 have not yet been released and are expected to be available later.

Sukhu said, “While the decline in road accidents and fatalities is encouraging, even a single life lost on our roads is one too many. We will continue to prioritize road safety and implement innovative measures to further reduce accidents in the coming years.”

The CM also urged people of the state to cooperate with law enforcement agencies by adhering to traffic rules, avoiding over-speeding and refraining from harsh driving. “Public participation remains a cornerstone in the mission to achieve safer roads. State government is committed to safeguarding human lives and will leave no stone unturned in its efforts to further improve road safety across the state,” he said.