Youth Face Highest Fatality Risk on Karnataka’s National Highways
Fresh Ministry data identifies the 25-35 age demographic as the most vulnerable group on Karnataka’s expressways. Cumulative statistics from 2022 to 2026 reveal a total of 10,489 deaths within this specific bracket.
Key takeaways
- The 25-35 age group recorded 10,489 road deaths in Karnataka from 2022 to 2026, the highest of any demographic.
- Individuals aged 35-45 formed the second-highest casualty group with 9,252 fatalities on National Highways.
- Ministry data for 2025 and 2026 transitioned to the Electronic Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR) portal for increased accuracy.
- Experts recommend vehicle seizures for speeding and scientific crash analysis to lower the state's highway death toll.
Age Demographics and Fatality Trends
Young adults between the ages of 25 and 35 represent the highest casualty figures on Karnataka’s National Highways and Expressways. Data released by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways confirms that 10,489 individuals in this demographic died in road incidents between 2022 and 2026. The annual breakdown for this group shows 3,346 deaths in 2022, 2,825 in 2023, 3,027 in 2024, 809 in 2025, and 482 in 2026.
Following closely, the 35-45 age group incurred 9,252 fatalities over the same five-year window. Other age-specific data points include:
- 18-25 years: 7,863 cumulative deaths, peaking at 2,527 in 2024.
- 45-60 years: 7,590 total fatalities reported.
- Over 60 years: 4,498 deaths recorded.
- Minors (under 18): 1,617 lives lost on state highways.
- Unknown age: 63 recorded deaths.
Analysis of Traffic Data Sources
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari submitted these figures to the Lok Sabha in a written response. The data collection methodology shifted mid-period; figures for 2022 through 2024 relied on manual entries from State Police departments. Conversely, the 2025 and 2026 statistics were pulled from the e-DAR (Electronic Detailed Accident Report) portal, an integrated digital reporting system.
Expert Perspectives on Behavioral Risks
Transport expert M.N. Srihari attributes the spike in young adult fatalities to high exposure and behavioral patterns. As the most active segment of the workforce, this group travels more frequently for professional and personal reasons. Srihari notes that overconfidence often leads to speeding and miscalculating road risks.
To mitigate these losses, Srihari advocates for a zero-tolerance policy regarding dangerous driving. He suggests that authorities should seize vehicles involved in high-speed violations and conduct rigorous scientific audits of every major crash to rectify infrastructure or systemic flaws.
Source: The Hindu — National
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