Jammu and Kashmir recorded 28,510 road accidents and 4,031 deaths over the last five years, official data presented in Parliament has revealed, highlighting a persistent road safety crisis across the Union Territory, according to a report from Srinagar.
The figures show that road accidents in J&K rose steadily from 4,860 in 2020 to 5,452 in 2021 and 6,092 in 2022, before peaking at 6,298 in 2023. The number of crashes declined slightly to 5,808 in 2024.
Fatalities followed a similar trend, increasing from 728 deaths in 2020 to 774 in 2021 and 805 in 2022, and reaching a five-year high of 893 in 2023. In 2024, the death toll dipped marginally to 831.
Over-speeding emerged as the single largest cause of both accidents and fatalities during the period. The Union Territory recorded 27,195 accidents and 3,956 deaths linked to over-speeding between 2020 and 2024, accounting for the overwhelming majority of road fatalities.
Over-speeding-related crashes rose from 4,821 in 2020 to 5,351 in 2021 and 5,990 in 2022, before declining to 5,666 in 2023 and 5,367 in 2024.
Accidents caused by overloading and vehicle-hanging, though fewer in number, saw a sharp rise in 2024. Such incidents increased from 207 in 2020 to 361 in 2024, while fatalities in this category jumped significantly from 58 in 2023 to 195 in 2024. Over five years, these crashes claimed 382 lives.
The data also points to continued non-compliance with basic safety norms. Failure to wear helmets resulted in 290 deaths over five years, while non-use of seat belts led to 804 fatalities between 2020 and 2024.
Unlicensed driving remains a concern, with 460 accidents recorded over the period involving drivers without valid licences. Cases peaked at 126 in 2022.
Responding to the trends, the government told Parliament that it is enforcing provisions of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, including enhanced penalties, computerised issuance of driving licences and vehicle fitness certificates, and stricter monitoring to curb violations such as juvenile driving.
