New Delhi: A recent report released by India's Road Transport and Highways Ministry has revealed a tragic toll of road accidents in the country, with 168,491 lives lost and 443,366 individuals injured over the course of the last year.

The report highlighted an alarming increase in the number of road accidents and resulting casualties, with a surge of 11.9 percent in accidents and a 9.4 percent rise in fatalities compared to the previous year. Additionally, there was a significant 15.3 percent increase in the number of people injured.

In 2022, the country recorded 461,312 road accidents, with 151,997 occurring on national highways, including expressways, 106,682 on state highways, and the remaining 202,633 on other roads.

The report noted that young adults in the age group of 18-45 years accounted for 66.5 percent of the victims in 2022, while people within the working age group of 18-60 years represented 83.4 percent of the total road accident fatalities.

The Indian government emphasized the pressing need for a comprehensive approach to address the factors contributing to these accidents, including issues like speeding, reckless driving, drunken driving, and non-compliance with traffic regulations. Strengthening enforcement mechanisms, enhancing driver education and training programs, and investing in road and vehicle improvements were all highlighted as critical measures.

Deadly road accidents are unfortunately common in India due to challenges such as overloading, poor road conditions, and reckless driving. To combat this issue, the Indian government has set a target to reduce road accident deaths by 50 percent by the year 2024.