New Delhi: At least six out of every 10 road accident victims in India in 2024 were two-wheeler riders/pedestrians, according to the latest report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). An analysis of four years of data shows that both the share and number of two-wheeler riders and pedestrians killed in accidents have steadily increased amid the government’s focus on making cars safer.NCRB data for 2024 shows that over 1.1 lakh deaths – 64% of the total 1.75 lakh road deaths – were of two-wheeler riders and pedestrians. The data also shows that the number of pedestrians killed in road accidents has exceeded that of car riders, making pedestrians the second most affected category of road users after two-wheeler riders. This trend highlights the low priority given to pedestrian safety in the development of the country’s road network.At 15.1%, car riders accounted for the second largest share (23,531) of road deaths in 2021. However, in 2022, the number of pedestrians killed reached 24,742, exceeding the number of car riders killed, and this trend has continued for the past three years. In 2024, pedestrian deaths were 25,769, second only to two-wheeler rider deaths, which were 84,599.Road safety experts across the world, including India, have urged policymakers to focus more on the safety of motorized two-wheelers, the most affordable and convenient mode of personal transportation for millions of people. They account for about three-quarters of all vehicles.The highest number of deaths in two-wheeler accidents occurred in Tamil Nadu (11,786) and Uttar Pradesh (8,575).According to the report, most road accidents (61.2%) were caused by speeding, with just over one lakh deaths. 46,132 people lost their lives due to dangerous and reckless driving or overtaking.Road-wise breakdown of accident data shows that nearly one lakh deaths (58% of all deaths) occurred on national highways and state highways in 2024.