Bengaluru tops road accident toll: One death every 12 hours!

Government data shows Bengaluru as the deadliest city for road users in Karnataka, with reckless driving and weak enforcement fuelling the crisis.

Bengaluru continues to hold the grim record of being Karnataka’s most accident-prone city, with government data revealing that the city witnesses an average of one accident every 11 hours and one fatality every 12 hours. Over the last five and a half years, the city has recorded 21,910 accidents, resulting in 4,154 deaths and more than 16,000 injuries. Despite a marginal dip in the overall state numbers, Bengaluru’s roads remain the most dangerous.

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Across Karnataka, the road safety picture is no less worrying. In the same period, the state reported 2.13 lakh accidents, claiming 60,115 lives. While authorities insist that measures such as stricter enforcement of traffic laws, speed regulation, and helmet rules are being introduced, the steady rise in fatal accidents underscores that the problem is far from being brought under control. From 2020 to 2025, Karnataka saw a sharp escalation in accidents, with annual figures climbing from 37,000 cases and 3,760 deaths in 2020 to more than 43,000 cases and over 12,000 deaths in 2023. This trend has continued, with 2025 already reporting nearly 22,000 accidents and close to 6,000 deaths.

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Bengaluru not only tops the state in total accidents but also in fatalities, far outstripping cities such as Mangaluru, which has the second-highest toll. Transport experts point out that reckless driving, overspeeding, drunk driving, and not wearing helmets are the leading causes behind this deadly trend. Young riders, in particular, form a significant proportion of victims.

The state’s rapid rise in vehicle ownership has only worsened the crisis. Karnataka currently has over 80 lakh two-wheelers, more than 1.17 crore four-wheelers, along with nearly 3 lakh commercial vehicles, all competing for road space. With enforcement often inconsistent and road safety awareness still limited, accidents have become an almost routine occurrence.

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Officials emphasize that Bengaluru urgently requires stronger enforcement of traffic rules, stricter penalties for violations, and larger public awareness drives to bring down its staggering accident rate. Unless drastic measures are implemented, the city’s roads will continue to pose serious risks for millions of daily commuters.

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