Kerala's roads must not turn into death traps

We have repeatedly written editorials about how road accidents are turning roads in Kerala into scenes of tragedy. Works to widen public roads, including National Highways, and straighten curves are continuing across the state. As roads become wider and smoother, vehicles naturally travel at higher speeds. Overspeeding is one of the biggest reasons for road accidents. According to the State Crime Records Bureau, overspeeding remains the leading cause of road accidents. Its report, based on accident data from 2024 and 2025, says that 46% of all road accidents during the two years were caused by overspeeding. Today, reducing travel time and covering longer distances quickly have become priorities. But the safety of motorists and pedestrians should always come first.

When roads were widened, bottlenecks at junctions were removed, and bypasses were built along National Highways, it was expected that the number of accidents would come down. Unfortunately, the opposite has happened. Bypasses usually have fewer curves and junctions, encouraging drivers to travel at high speeds. As a result, many serious accidents now occur on these roads. A recent accident on the Thiruvallam Bypass in Thiruvananthapuram claimed the lives of a young man and a young woman who were riding a motorcycle. It was first believed that the bike had crashed into the divider. However, CCTV footage later showed that a car had hit the motorcycle, causing the rider to lose control. The driver of the car was arrested later, as the vehicle had left the scene without stopping.

The National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) has found that nearly one-third of Kerala's National Highways are accident-prone. As part of its Road Safety Action Plan for 2025-2030, the agency has identified more than 2,200 kilometres of National and State Highways where the chances of vehicle collisions are high. Although the action plan is aimed at reducing road accident deaths by 2030, it will still take about three and a half years for it to be fully implemented. By then, the number of road accident deaths could increase to as much as six times the current level.

According to Kerala Police records, 5,117 people were killed in road accidents during the 16 months from January 2025 to April 2026. More than 21,000 people were injured in accidents during the first four months of this year alone. The number of road accidents has more than doubled over the past five years. Authorities are identifying accident-prone stretches on highways and taking steps to improve road safety. Even so, the number of accidents and deaths continues to rise. To reduce road accidents, speed enforcement on National Highways, including bypasses, must be made stricter. More accident warning signs should be installed, higher driving standards should be ensured, and tougher penalties should be imposed for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Shorter travel distances and reduced travel time should not come at the cost of human lives. Better roads should make journeys safer, not shorten people's lives.