Guwahati, Sep 1: Meghalaya has witnessed a modest 3.7% increase in road fatalities, according to the Road Accidents 2023 report released by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways today.
During calendar year 2023, road crashes in India claimed approximately 1.73 lakh lives and resulted in injuries to 4.63 lakh people. Road accidents being the result of the interplay of multiple factors, multipronged measures are needed to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities.
In the Northeast, the report says, with some marginal fluctuations, the percentage share of North Eastern States in total accidents has been constant during the last five years, i.e. 2019 to 2023. Among the North Eastern States, Assam recorded the highest number of accidents during 2019 and 2023.
Tripura, with 577 accidents, was in second place, followed by Manipur (398). The number of accidents has increased in 2023 over 2022 in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura. “In all other North Eastern states, there was a decrease in accidents in 2023 as compared to 2022”, the report says.
In 2022, a total of 162 persons died in road accidents in Meghalaya, which increased to 168 in 2023. Road accidents came down from 246 to 223.
A number of steps have been taken by the Meghalaya government to enhance road safety. The Shillong Traffic Police (STP) has issued a stern advisory highlighting the importance of helmet use for children riding as pillion passengers or standing in front on two-wheelers.
According to the advisory, many parents and guardians wear helmets themselves but fail to provide similar head protection for children, exposing them to significant risks of injury or fatality in case of accidents.
The Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills, Vivek Syiem, emphasised that ensuring children wear helmets is crucial for their safety. The advisory, issued on March 20, 2025, warns that non-compliance will result in penalties under the Motor Vehicles Act.
The STP has called upon parents and guardians to take this responsibility seriously, urging everyone to work together to protect young lives and make Shillong’s roads safer for all and create a safer future for children on the roads of Shillong.
The East Khasi Hills District police have introduced seven dedicated branch-wise traffic control helpline numbers to enhance traffic management and response to traffic-related issues in Shillong.
According to Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem, the helpline numbers are designed to facilitate quick reporting of traffic jams or obstruction, vehicular breakdowns, accidents, unsafe road conditions and other emergencies.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has addressed the rising concerns over frequent accidents occurring in the West Garo Hills district, particularly involving the regular movement of dumpers associated with ongoing construction activities.
Sangma emphasised the need for immediate action by instructing the DC of West Garo Hills to organise an awareness campaign on road safety involving various stakeholders. The initiative aims to mitigate the growing number of accidents attributed to construction-related traffic in the region.
Throughout the country, a total number of 4,80,583 road accidents have been reported by States and Union Territories (UTs) during the calendar year 2023, claiming 1,72,890 lives and causing injuries to 4,62,825 persons. The number of road accidents in 2023 increased by 4.2% compared to the previous year, 2022.
Amongst the States, Tamil Nadu with 67,213 accidents (14 %) recorded the highest number of road accidents in 2023, followed by Madhya Pradesh (55,327, i.e., 11.5%). Uttar Pradesh (23,652, i.e., 13.7%) topped the States in respect of the number of fatalities due to road accidents, followed by Tamil Nadu (18,347, i.e.,10.6%).
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