A Silent Tsunami on Indian Road: A Comprehensive Analysis of Epidemiological Aspects of Road Traffic Accidents

Abstract

This paper aims to critically analyze the epidemiology of road traffic accident in India. It is noteworthy to mention that India already accounts for about 9.5% of the total 1.2 million fatal accidents in the world. In 2009, for every 4.14 minute and 1.13 minute one death and one injury took place in India from road accident, respectively. Between 1970 and 2009 the number of accidents has quadrupled (1.1 lakh in 1970 to 4.22 lakh in 2009) with nearly 6.5 fold increase in injuries (0.7 lakh in 1970 to 4.67 lakh in 2009) and nearly 9.5 fold increase in fatalities (0.14 lakh in 1970 to 1.27 lakh in 2009). During the period of 2004 to 2009, road accident rate, injury rate and casualty rate per 105 population have been increased by 8.5%, 4.7% and 29.8%, respectively. In 2009, total 1,08,409 male and 18,487 female died in road accident. It was also observed that in last five years (2005 to 2009) average 84.9% male and 15.1 % female died in road accident. In 2009, total 90,298 people, out of total 1,26,896 accident victims died from age group of (5-44 Yrs), which is the most productive age group for nation. Average percentage share of last five years (2005-2009) for the age groups (Up to 14 Yrs), (15–29 Yrs), (30–44 Yrs), (45–59 Yrs), and (Above 60 Yrs) were 6.35, 29.84, 35.05, 20.97 and 7.79, respectively. The month-wise distribution of ‘Road Accidents’ has also shown more accidents during May (38,928) and June (36,234) sharing 9.2% and 8.6% respectively. Maximum ‘Road Accidents’ (68,835) were reported during 3 p.m. to 6 p.m (16.3%), 64,191 cases during 9 a.m. to 12 noon (15.2%), and least number (28,984) of these accidents (6.9%) was reported during 1200 to 3 AM in the night. The cause-wise number of persons killed in road accidents indicates that almost three-fourths of the accidents were due to driver’s fault.