408 accidents caused by individuals without driving licence; overspeeding, overloading a concern
WAJAHAT SHABIR
SRINAGAR: Over the last five years, Jammu and Kashmir has reported a worrying rise in road accidents and fatalities. According to official data presented in the Rajya Sabha, the Union Territory witnessed a total of 28,178 road accidents and 4,287 deaths from 2018 to 2022.
The number of accidents rose steadily after a slight dip during the COVID-19 year of 2020. The highest number of accidents was recorded in 2022, with 6,092 crashes and 805 fatalities, followed closely by 2018, which had 5,978 accidents and 984 deaths.
Over-speeding continues to be the leading cause of road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir. Between 2018 and 2022, 26,776 accidents were caused by vehicles driving over speed limits, resulting in 4,247 deaths. In 2022 alone, 5,990 such accidents occurred, leading to 797 deaths — indicating that the problem remains persistent despite enforcement efforts.
Accidents involving overloaded or overhanging vehicles also contributed significantly to the road safety crisis in the region. Over the five-year period, 1,203 accidents were attributed to vehicle overloading, resulting in 218 fatalities. The number of such incidents increased from 207 in 2020 to 281 in 2022, showing a gradual but steady rise.
Another major concern is the lack of compliance with basic safety norms like wearing helmets and seat belts. Between 2018 and 2022, 274 accidents in the region were linked to helmet violations. Furthermore, 429 people lost their lives during this period due to either not wearing a helmet or failing to use seat belts. In 2022 alone, authorities recorded 81 such accidents and 113 related deaths.
Equally alarming is the number of road accidents caused by individuals driving without valid licenses. Jammu and Kashmir reported 408 such accidents over the five-year period, with the number increasing from 63 in 2018 to 126 in 2022, raising serious questions about enforcement and licensing mechanisms.
To improve road safety, the central government has rolled out technology-driven solutions like the Electronic Detailed Accident Report (eDAR) portal, integrated with various databases such as VAHAN, Sarathi, CCTNS, and health systems. While these systems are designed to help track accident blackspots and improve policy interventions, effective implementation at the state level — particularly in regions like Jammu and Kashmir — remains a critical challenge due to difficult terrain, lack of awareness, and enforcement gaps.
