Kerala recorded a total of 44,938 road accidents from January to November 2024, according to data from the Crime Records Bureau.
Published Jan 15, 2025 | 5:00 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 15, 2025 | 5:00 PM
Accident. Representational Image. (Creative Commons)
Kerala marked the New Year with a tragic incident that focused attention on poor road safety in the state. On 1 January, an 11-year-old girl lost her life, and 17 others were injured when a school bus overturned at Valakkai near Sreekandapuram in Kannur.
This came after a string of devastating road accidents in recent months.
In December alone, Kerala witnessed multiple fatal accidents; on 2 December, six medical students lost their lives in a horrific crash on the Alappuzha Kalarcode road; on 13 December, four school students were killed after being trapped under a truck in Palakkad; and on 15 December, a family of four perished in a collision in Pathanamthitta district.
On 5 January 2025, two Sabarimala pilgrims died in a collision between a car and a bus in Kollam.
These incidents underscore the alarming rise in road accidents across Kerala, which, despite its relatively small size, ranks among the states with the highest number of road accidents in India, following Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
An analysis of the road accident data over the past three years is essential to understand the factors contributing to this trend.
Kerala recorded a total of 44,938 road accidents from January to November 2024, according to data from the Crime Records Bureau. These incidents led to 3,453 fatalities and left 50,290 individuals injured. Even though only about 30 percent of accidents occur during night hours, over half of the deaths were reported during this time.
This underscores the heightened risk of nighttime travel on Kerala roads.
Drunk driving is a major cause of accidents, especially at night. On the night of 10 January, a young man arrested for driving his scooter recklessly in Thiruvananthapuram was arrested and brought to the Poonthura Police Station, where he smashed a glass barrier with his head in a bid to escape.
No deaths occurred in that incident, thanks to timely action by police.
Kerala sees record levels of sale of alcohol and the Kerala State Beverages Corporation runs profitably.
In September 2023, the financial news website Moneycontrol reported that Kerala bought alcohol worth ₹759 crore in the 10 days leading up to the Onam celebrations.
Over-speeding, negligence and a huge spike in the number of vehicles on the roads, with inadequate road infrastructure, are all causes for the rise in the number of accidents.
An estimated 75 percent of Kerala’s total traffic is concentrated on less than 20 percent of the state’s Public Works Department (PWD) roads, amplifying congestion and accident risk.
It was in response to these challenges that the ‘SAFE Kerala’ project introduced in June 2023 so AI-powered cameras could be pressed in to curb traffic rule violations.
However, the impact of that move is not systematically studied, and the desired goal is still to be achieved. For context, 2023 saw 48,091 accidents and 4,080 deaths, indicating a marginal decline in numbers in 2024.
It was on 20 April, 2023 that the chief minister of Kerala launched the Fully Automated Traffic Enforcement System.
This AI-driven system, developed and implemented by the private firm SRIT for Keltron, aims to enhance road safety by using advanced AI cameras to identify traffic violations.
SRIT oversaw the end-to-end delivery of the project, which included comprehensive project management, planning, and delivery assurance, along with quality control, integration, user acceptance testing, service level agreement monitoring, and a five-year maintenance plan.
A senior official from the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) informed South First that 726 cameras have been installed across national and state highways in Kerala as part of this initiative.
Of these, 675 cameras are designated to monitor infractions such as riding two-wheelers without helmets, failure to wear seat belts, and hit-and-run incidents.
Additionally, 25 cameras are dedicated to identifying illegal parking, four fixed cameras monitor speeding vehicles, four cameras are mounted on vehicles for mobile surveillance, and 18 cameras track red-light violations.
To support these efforts, control rooms have been established in all 14 districts.
The Safe Kerala project, which emphasises enforcement and road safety awareness, has played a significant role in reducing fatalities and serious injuries on the state’s roads.
However, despite the decline in fatal accidents, the rising number of overall accidents remains a concern that requires further investigation.
When South First accessed data from the Crime Records Bureau, in 2023, the number of accidents was 48,091, resulting in 4,080 deaths and 54,320 injuries.
In 2022, the total number of accidents was 43,910, which resulted in 4,317 deaths and 49,307 injuries. In 2021, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the numbers were comparatively lower, with 33,296 accidents, 3,429 fatalities, and 40,204 injuries.
The district-wise data of road accidents on a yearly basis will help to get a clear picture.
2023
For the year 2023, the total number of accidents was 48,091, with 3,884 fatal cases, 34,405 grievous injury cases, 7,691 minor injury cases, and 2,111 non-injury cases.
In terms of the number of persons involved, 4,080 deaths were recorded, 37,708 people sustained grievous injuries, 16,612 people had minor injuries, and a total of 58,400 people were injured.
In the case of districts, Alappuzha recorded the highest number of deaths, at 377; Palakkad followed with 329 deaths, and Trivandrum Rural had 325 deaths.
Kannur Rural recorded the least number of fatalities, at 78.
In terms of the number of accident cases, Ernakulam Rural had the highest number, with 4,325, followed by Alappuzha with 4,145. Wayanad recorded the least number of cases, at 910.
2022
In 2022, a total of 43,910 accidents were reported across the state. These included 4,104 fatal cases, 31,584 grievous injury cases, 6,674 minor injury cases, and 1,548 non-injury cases.
The total number of people involved in these accidents amounted to 53,624, with 1,548 deaths, 34,638 grievous injuries, and 14,669 minor injuries.
District-wise, Thiruvananthapuram Rural recorded the highest number of deaths at 372, followed by Alappuzha at 365 deaths. Ernakulam Rural witnessed 351 deaths and Wayanad’s roads were the safest, even though 67 died in road accidents.
In terms of accident cases, Ernakulam Rural topped the list with 4,047 cases, closely followed by Alappuzha with 3,666 cases. Wayanad reported the fewest accidents, at 774 cases.
2021
In 2021, Kerala reported a total of 33,296 individuals affected by road accidents, including 3,262 fatalities, 24,275 cases of grievous injuries, 4,719 minor injuries, and 1,040 non-injury cases.
The total number of people involved in these accidents was 40,204, with 3,429 deaths, 26,495 grievous injuries, and 10,280 minor injuries.
District-wise, Alappuzha recorded the highest number of fatalities, with 297 deaths, followed by Thiruvananthapuram Rural at 293 and Malappuram with 291. Wayanad had the lowest death toll, reporting 54 fatalities.
In terms of accident cases, Ernakulam Rural topped the list with 3,085 incidents, closely followed by Alappuzha with 2,914.
Wayanad again had the fewest accidents, at 545 cases.
The significant reduction in accidents, particularly in Wayanad, was attributed to the lockdown and strict regulations, according to the MVD.
Although the number of fatalities from road accidents has decreased, the rise in overall accident cases has drawn significant public criticism.
In response, the Kerala Police, in partnership with the MVD, launched an intensive traffic enforcement drive on 16 December 2024.
This initiative followed a high-level meeting of traffic officials, chaired by Manoj Abraham, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Law and Order.
During the meeting, Manoj Abraham emphasised to the media that the police would enhance their “visible presence” on the roads, particularly during the night. As part of this campaign, both police and MVD officials have started utilising field test kits to check drivers for alcohol and drug impairment.
Strict penalties await those found flouting traffic rules, including hefty fines, suspension or cancellation of driving licenses, and, in severe cases, brief imprisonment.
An official from the MVD said the primary factors contributing to the rise in accidents could be identified better with the introduction of AI camera surveillance. Incidents of driving without helmets and seatbelts have decreased notably.
Driving license tests have also become more rigorous and methodical.
However, a significant concern remains the high number of daily commuters using two-wheelers, a situation that could be alleviated with a well-developed suburban public transport system.
Furthermore, buses — whether private or operated by KSRTC — are often determined to adhere to their schedules, regardless of road conditions.
The increasing number of vehicles per household has also contributed to the high traffic density, further exacerbating the issue.
The Public Works Department, in collaboration with National Transportation and Planning Research Centre (NATPAC) and Kerala Highway Research Institute (KHRI) are responsible for reviewing road safety and overseeing planning, design, and maintenance of roads.
A manual on “Safety-Conscious Highway Design Standards” was adopted, incorporating guidelines for “Safety at Road Works.” Road safety audits of both existing and new roads were conducted in phases.
Cycle tracks were introduced in cities like Kochi with high number of cycles. Accident-prone locations were identified and improved across key state roads. PWD, NATPAC, and other agencies also conducted “Before and After” studies to assess the effectiveness of safety measures.
Speed breakers, zebra crossings, and reflectors were installed where necessary.
However, Kerala faces challenges such as narrow, winding single-lane roads, high population density along roadsides, and a lack of lane discipline.
Urban areas suffer from deteriorating road conditions, which often worsen after the monsoon. While repairs are usually prioritised post-monsoon, the improvements typically last three to four years before further deterioration.
(Edited by Rosamma Thomas.)
