25% of Victims in Road Fatalities Below 25 Years
According to police officials, law enforcement alone cannot reverse the trend. They said that there is a need for early education, consistent seatbelt and helmet use, and more accountability among young drivers to prevent avoidable loss of life.
Hyderabad: Young adults, particularly those in their early twenties, continue to account for a high share of road accident fatalities in India, which officials attribute to overspeeding, substance use and poor risk assessment.
According to ‘Road Accidents in India 2023 report released by the Union ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH), people below the age of 25 accounted for 25.5 per cent of all road traffic deaths in the country last year. With India recording about 1.72 lakh road fatalities in 2023, this translates to roughly 44,000-45,000 deaths among those aged under 25 years.
The MoRTH data further shows that the broader 18-45 age group contributes nearly two-thirds of all road accident deaths, highlighting that fatalities are concentrated among young and working-age populations.
A similar trend prevailed locally. According to data recently released by the Telangana transport department, nearly 68 per cent of road deaths in the state are among the 18-45 age group, with 18-25 alone contributing about 16 per cent of fatalities.
Police officials in Hyderabad say a large share of serious and fatal crashes they handle involve youngsters in their early 20s, especially late at night.
Madhapur Traffic DCP T. Manohar Sai said youngsters were frequently found to be involved in serious accidents due to overspeeding, distracted driving and poor judgment. “Many young drivers tend to overestimate their ability to control a vehicle, particularly at night or on open stretches of road,” he said.
Hyderabad city traffic additional DCP Venugopal Reddy said substance use, including alcohol, remained a recurring factor in fatal crashes involving young adults. “Low-risk perception and thrill-seeking behaviour often lead to poor decision-making. This is why road safety awareness has to begin at the school level itself,” he said.
The data also attributes over 70 per cent of accidents and fatalities to overspeeding, while two-wheelers account for nearly 45 per cent of road deaths, categories in which young users are heavily represented.
According to police officials, law enforcement alone cannot reverse the trend. They said that there is a need for early education, consistent seatbelt and helmet use, and more accountability among young drivers to prevent avoidable loss of life.
