As India looks ahead to becoming a developed nation, a harsh truth remains: every single minute, someone dies on our roads. True development is impossible when preventable road deaths continue unchecked. In most developed countries, serious injuries or fatalities from road crashes are rare, not routine—and are treated as preventable tragedies, not inevitable facts of life.

According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) Road Accidents in India 2023 report, India saw over 4.8 lakh road crashes in 2023, resulting in over 1.72 lakh fatalities. Vulnerable road users—two-wheeler riders, pedestrians, and cyclists—continued to account for most fatalities. Despite decades of policy discussions and programs, our roads remain dangerous, and fatalities are rising instead of falling.

India is a signatory to the Stockholm Declaration (2015), which commits countries to halving road deaths by 2030. Yet in the last decade, we have lost more than 14 lakh lives and seen over 45 lakh injuries on our roads. Each death affects at least four family members—meaning over 24 million Indians have been directly impacted. That’s more than 1.5% of our population—a silent epidemic with devastating social and economic consequences.

Where We Stand on Road Safety

Yes, vehicle safety technology has improved, and national highways are now built with better safety features. But most roads—especially state highways, rural roads, and city streets—still expose people to dangerous conditions. Advanced cars may protect those inside, but vulnerable road users outside remain at high risk.

The Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety exists to monitor progress, but its impact has been limited outside of National Highways. Protecting vulnerable users on all roads requires strong, coordinated, and regularly monitored action—led at the highest national level and treated as an urgent mission.

Mission Mode for Improving Road Safety

Mission mode initiatives are crucial for improving road safety as they provide a structured, focused approach to addressing the multifaceted challenges of traffic-related incidents. By setting clear, time-bound goals and dedicating resources to targeted interventions, mission mode ensures that road safety measures are implemented effectively and consistently.

This approach enables the collaboration of government agencies, law enforcement, local authorities, and non-governmental organizations to work together toward a common objective—reducing accidents and fatalities. It emphasizes data-driven strategies, enforcement of traffic laws, infrastructure improvements, and public awareness campaigns, creating a holistic solution to the road safety problem.

For example, the Swachh Bharat Mission, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, is an excellent illustration of a mission-mode policy in India that has had a profound impact on public health, sanitation, and overall cleanliness. While its primary focus is sanitation, the mission’s broader effects—improved public health, safer public spaces, and cleaner road environments—also contribute indirectly to India’s road safety objectives. Alongside this, the National Health Mission has strengthened healthcare delivery and disease prevention across the country, the Skill India Mission has empowered millions with employable skills, and the Digital India Mission has expanded access to technology and governance services.

Together, these initiatives show how coordinated, result-oriented, and monitored efforts in diverse sectors can create interlinked positive outcomes, demonstrating the transformative potential of mission-mode policies.

Protecting vulnerable users on all roads requires strong, coordinated, and regularly monitored action—led at the highest national level and treated as an urgent mission. Ultimately, mission mode fosters a sense of urgency and accountability, accelerating the pace of change and helping to create safer roads for all users.

India must make every road safer by design, for every user, everywhere, and do so in mission mode. This is not just an infrastructure and safety goal—it is a moral obligation to protect lives.

Authored by:
Aditya Chawande, Parisar and RSN Partner