New Delhi, Oct 13 Delhi’s roads turned more deadlier in 2026, claiming an average of five lives and leaving 17 people injured every day in the first nine months of the year, which saw 1,309 fatalities, with two-wheeler riders and pedestrians accounting for 81 per cent of those killed, according to official data.
The city recorded an average of 17 road accidents daily between January and September, with the daily averages for accidents, fatalities and injuries all reaching their highest levels in six years, the data showed.
The national capital recorded 4,679 road accidents and 4,662 injuries in the first nine months of 2026.
The average number of accidents per day stood at 13 in 2021 and rose to 16 annually between 2022 and 2025. Similarly, the daily average of fatalities increased from three in 2021 to four in 2022, remaining at that level until 2025.
The average number of injuries per day rose from 12 in 2021 to 14 in 2022, 15 in 2023, 14 in 2024 and 15 in 2025.
In absolute numbers, Delhi recorded 4,720 accidents in 2021, 5,652 in 2022, 5,834 in 2023, 5,657 in 2024 and 5,689 in 2025. The corresponding fatalities stood at 1,239, 1,461, 1,457, 1,551 and 1,617, respectively.
The number of people injured in road accidents was 4,273 in 2021, 5,201 in 2022, 5,470 in 2023, 5,224 in 2024 and 5,314 in 2025.
Pedestrians accounted for nearly two out of every five road accident deaths in 2026 till September, with around 492 people losing their lives on Delhi’s roads, the data showed.
The average number of pedestrian deaths stood at around two per day from 2022 onwards, compared with one per day in 2021.
Delhi recorded 504 pedestrian deaths in 2021, 629 in 2022, 622 in 2023, 584 in 2024 and 649 in 2025.
Among vehicles identified as being involved in road accidents in 2026 till September, cars accounted for 15 per cent, trucks 13 per cent, buses 6 per cent and e-rickshaws 2.5 per cent, according to the data.
The number of accidents involving e-rickshaws rose from 55 in 2021 to 66 in 2022, 118 in 2023, 112 in 2024 and 163 in 2025. A total of 119 such cases were recorded till September this year.
Accidents involving buses stood at 66 in 2021, 94 in 2022, 73 in 2023, 71 in 2024 and 74 in 2025. The figure was 79 till September 2026.
Truck-related accidents increased from 145 in 2021 to 181 in 2022 and 190 in 2023, before standing at 188 in 2024 and 207 in 2025. A total of 170 such accidents were recorded in the first nine months of 2026.
“The figures underline the urgent need to make Delhi’s roads safer, particularly for pedestrians and two-wheeler riders, who account for the overwhelming share of fatalities,” a senior police officer said, adding that the Delhi Traffic Police is working in the direction.
He added that better enforcement of traffic rules, safer road design, speed management and protection for vulnerable road users must go hand in hand to bring down deaths and injuries.
(PTI News)
