Road traffic injuries are a leading cause of death among children and adolescents in India, says a recent report based on data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The report by United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) Bengaluru, highlights the extent of the issue and the measures needed to address it.
Children and adolescents account for 10% of all road crash fatalities in India. In 2022 alone, 16,443 deaths were recorded in this age group, with nearly 45 children dying every day. The actual number is estimated to be 20% higher due to underreporting. Around five lakh children suffer non-fatal road injuries annually, with many requiring hospitalisation.
Between 2011 and 2022, approximately 1.98 lakh children and adolescents lost their lives in road crashes. Fatalities in the 14–17 age group more than doubled in this period. Highways account for 55-60% of all road fatalities, and nearly one-third of all child pedestrian deaths occur at traffic intersections.
The report identifies several contributing factors beyond poor road conditions. Human error, weak enforcement of traffic regulations, and inadequate vehicle safety standards play a major role. More than half of the top 25 safety-rated cars in India have a child occupant safety rating of three stars or lower.
The use of child restraint systems in Indian cities is between 2-6%, and helmet compliance among children and adolescents varies from 10-50% in urban areas and just 2-5% in rural regions. Despite laws requiring helmet and seatbelt use, gaps in awareness and enforcement continue to put children at risk.
Experts at the report launch held on Monday, February 3, recommended a series of measures, including stricter traffic enforcement, improved emergency care facilities, and better pedestrian infrastructure. The report calls for a dedicated budget for child road safety, child occupant safety rating assessments for all new cars, and mandatory road safety audits near schools. It also highlights the need to create designated safe-school zones, improve access to affordable public transport for children, and expand emergency response systems, particularly along highways where a large share of fatalities occur.
Beyond prevention, strengthening trauma care is a key recommendation. Only 20% of large government hospitals in India have paediatric ICU facilities, limiting survival chances for children with severe injuries. To address this, NIMHANS is developing a Level-1 polytrauma centre in north Bengaluru.
The report points to a lack of coordination between agencies, limited funding, and the absence of fully functional road safety boards as barriers to implementation. Experts stress that tackling this issue requires an organised, multi-sectoral approach involving the government, urban planners, vehicle manufacturers, and healthcare providers. Without systemic changes, road traffic injuries will continue to pose a serious threat to child safety in India.