Ahmedabad: An analysis of five years’ data indicates that in 2024, the fatality rate (out of total road accidents recorded) was 49.5%, the highest in five years in Gujarat. It was 46.2% in 2020, 49% in 2021, 48.3% in 2022, and 48% in 2023.On the other hand, road accidents in absolute terms fell by 4.7% year-on-year compared to 2023 in Gujarat, according to Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released on Wednesday. The year 2023 recorded the highest fatalities in Ahmedabad at 535. This figure was 410 in 2024, a fall of 23%. Road accident cases decreased by 10.2%, and the fatality rate fell from 30.2% in 2023 to 25.8% in 2024 for the city.“Composition of vehicle type, road type, traffic management, etc are some determining fatalities. Traditionally, there are 3Es of road safety – Engineering, Enforcement, and Education. The fourth E is emergency services. Timely care provided to the road accident victims can save lives. The deployment of EMRI 108 ambulances is planned dynamically based on accident numbers, which is also improving the chances of survival for victims,” said a road safety expert.The NCRB report indicates that 96% of the road fatalities in Ahmedabad city were attributed to ‘over-speeding’, generalizing the overall nature of road traffic accidents where there are multiple factors taken into account by NCRB standards that include weather conditions, road conditions, and driver fatigue among others.
