Road accidents in Kerala

Report from Johnson J. Edayaranmula, Director ADIC India

The number of road-accident deaths in Kerala State has risen steeply, with 3,066 people being killed and 51,352 injured in 41,306 accidents in 2004. Statistics compiled by the State Crime Records Bureau show that the annual figures for such deaths in the State crossed 3,000 for the first time last year. The number was 2,905 in 2003; 2,792 in 2002; 2,674 in 2001; and 2,710 in 2000. There were 50,917 vehicles damaged in 2004.

Source: State Crime Records Bureau, Kerala

As per the road accident data compiled by the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC), Kerala has become the second most accident-prone State in the country after Maharashtra. The total cost on account of fatalities, injuries and vehicles damaged in the 41,306 road accidents that occurred in the State during 2004 has been estimated at Rs. 4537.8 million which is roughly 1.5 per cent of the State’s GDP. The cost on account of road accidents, which was Rs. 3160 million in 1998, is going up five to six per cent annually according to the Chief Project Coordinator of NATPAC Mr. Mahesh Chand.

The analysis of the accident costs has revealed that 57% was due to loss of production, 14% due to medical expenses, 7% due to administrative expenses of police and insurance companies, 6% due to court related expenses and 16% due to notional value for pain, grief and suffering of the victims. Of the 41,306 accidents, 11,106 took place in the National Highway stretches passing through the State, 5,184 in State Highway and the remaining in other roads.

A study conducted by the Alcohol & Drug Information Centre (ADIC)- India revealed that around 40% of the road accidents have occurred because the driver was under the influence of alcohol. In the case of accidents in national highways, more than 72% was related to drink driving. The number of Road accidents in Kerala has a close link to the alcohol per-capita consumption in the State. Kerala has one of the highest per capita consumption of alcohol in the country and hence it is not surprising that in Road Accidents too Kerala tops the country’s list.