Road crash severity in AP outpaces national average

Visakhapatnam: The expansion of the road network, including highways and expressways, and an increase in vehicular population continued to spur a rise in fatalities due to road crashes in Andhra Pradesh, with the severity of crashes worsening significantly. The severity of road accidents, measured by the number of fatalities per 100 accidents, remained high in Andhra Pradesh in 2024 compared to the national average.

According to the data released by the Union ministry of road transport and highways, Andhra Pradesh’s accident severity increased from 38 in 2021 to 42.7 in 2024, significantly surpassing the national average of 36.3.Andhra Pradesh recorded 19,557 road accidents in 2024, in which 8,346 people died. That translates to 42.7 fatalities per 100 accidents, and the national average is 36.3.Though Kerala recorded 48,834 road accidents in 2024, the severity of the road crashes remained very low at 7.9, as 3,880 people died.

Kerala is in a league of its own when it comes to saving road accident victims. Experts say this lower fatality is largely due to Kerala’s healthcare density and quick response.On average, at least 8,000 people died, and over 20,000 people suffered injuries in road crashes in Andhra Pradesh in a year. The state stood below the 10th rank in road accidents and deaths in the country.Though the number of fatalities in road crashes remained high in Andhra Pradesh, many districts lacked proper trauma care centres (TCCs) to provide immediate medical assistance to accident victims.

The increasing number of road crashes underscored the importance of establishing trauma care facilities and enhancing health infrastructure along highways.The experts say that there is a need to create rapid medical response and better road conditions to make the difference between life and death in the state. In Kerala, people are rushed to trauma care units within the golden hour, which is why the severity rate of road accidents is the lowest in the country.Andhra Pradesh currently operates twelve to 14 TCCs. There is a need to increase the number of TCCs in each district of the state and ensure proper maintenance of the TCCs, with better coordination between the union and state governments, by allocating sufficient funds.