Tamil Nadu tops India’s road accident chart for fourth straight year

Chennai: Tamil Nadu has dominated India's road accident statistics for the fourth consecutive year in 2025, reporting over 71,000 crashes. However, the state has managed a comparatively lower proportion of fatalities compared to other major vehicle-owning states, according to figures presented in Parliament. In 2025, Tamil Nadu experienced 71,387 road accidents, resulting in 18,505 deaths.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari disclosed these figures during a question and answer session in the Lok Sabha, responding to a query from Kerala MP Benny Behanan. The accident-to-fatality ratio in Tamil Nadu stood at approximately 26 deaths per 100 accidents.

The statistics reveal a growing trend in road accidents across Tamil Nadu. From 64,105 crashes in 2022, the total increased by over 7,000 between 2022 and 2025, reaching 71,387 in 2025. This sustained rise in accident numbers underscores concerns regarding road safety despite various enforcement and prevention measures. Similarly, the number of fatalities has followed a gradual upward trajectory, with 17,884 deaths in 2022, 18,347 in 2023, 18,449 in 2024, and 18,505 in 2025.

Tamil Nadu's burgeoning fleet of vehicles is considered a significant factor contributing to the high accident rate. As of April 2025, the state boasted 37.6 million registered vehicles, placing it third in the country, behind Uttar Pradesh (50.5 million) and Maharashtra (39.5 million). While Tamil Nadu recorded more accidents than these two states, it experienced a significantly lower fatality rate.

Other states like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra recorded higher fatality-to-accident ratios of 55.47% and 49% respectively, highlighting the disparity in road safety outcomes.