Pune, 11 March 2026: Member of Parliament Dr. Medha Kulkarni has urged the government to take immediate and strict measures to address the growing problem of road accidents in India.
Speaking in Parliament, she said the increasing number of fatalities on roads has become a serious concern that requires urgent attention and stronger enforcement of safety rules.
Kulkarni pointed out that reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, and the rising trend of shooting reels or photos on highways for social media are contributing significantly to accidents.
According to available data, nearly 1.78 lakh people lost their lives in road accidents across the country in 2024. Alarmingly, around 60 percent of these victims were young people between the ages of 18 and 34.
She also highlighted the situation in Maharashtra, where the state’s Economic Survey recorded 36,084 road accidents in 2024, resulting in 15,335 deaths. In Pune alone, police data shows that 1,404 accidents were reported in 2024, leading to 320 deaths and 1,320 injuries. The number of accidents in the city stood at 1,230 in 2023.
“Strict punishment provisions already exist for drunk driving and reckless driving, but their implementation is often weak. Stronger enforcement and stricter penalties are necessary to deter offenders,” Kulkarni said.
She further suggested several measures to improve road safety, including the establishment of fast-track courts for accident-related death cases, the use of artificial intelligence-based speed detection systems, breath analysers and CCTV monitoring, and regular safety audits of accident-prone spots on major highways such as the Mumbai–Pune Expressway.
Kulkarni also recommended banning liquor shops near highways, launching road safety awareness campaigns in schools and colleges, and ensuring immediate financial assistance for accident victims and their families.
She emphasized that coordinated action by authorities and public awareness are essential to reduce the growing number of road fatalities in the country.