For years, Uttar Pradesh has topped the chart for road accident fatalities in India — an unfortunate distinction for a state with one of the country’s best highway networks. Lakhs of lives have been lost, leaving families shattered and citizens increasingly frustrated.
Even Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has publicly admitted that he feels embarrassed at global forums, often trying to “hide his face” to avoid questions on India’s staggering road-fatality numbers.
Amid this rising public anger, persistent concern, and a growing demand for accountability, the Uttar Pradesh Police has finally moved to take road safety seriously.
On Tuesday, DGP Rajeev Krishna unveiled a statewide traffic reform push, following pilot interventions that significantly reduced accidents on three high-risk national highway stretches.
The review, conducted via video conference with all senior district and commissionerate-level officers, comes as the state observes November as Traffic Month.
Krishna had earlier flagged traffic management as one of his top priorities and has now directed the Traffic Directorate to roll out a data-based, comprehensive strategy to tackle highways and urban congestion alike.
Pilot results were promising:
- Lucknow–Unnao (NH-27): Accidents dropped 64% in August, and 90% in September
- Sikandrabad–Aligarh (NH-34): Down 33% in August, 81% in September
- Kanpur stretch (NH-34): Nearly 39% reduction in August, and stability in September
Based on these findings, UP Police has launched a Statewide Action Plan to eliminate bottlenecks, reduce deaths, and align with the national Zero Fatality District (ZFD) mission using iRAD (Integrated Road Accident Database) analytics.
Key Focus Areas:
- 15 districts and 5 commissionerates identified as high-fatality zones
- 233 critical police station jurisdictions flagged
- 89 accident-heavy corridors & over 3,200 crash-prone points mapped
- Dedicated corridor enforcement teams with speed guns & alcometers
- Coordination with the engineering & transport departments to fix black spots
- SOP-based monitoring & training for officers
However, this effort — though welcome — is only the beginning. People across the state expect action, not announcements.
It is widely felt that police alone cannot manage this crisis. UP needs a dedicated Road Safety Authority with sole responsibility for monitoring accident-prone zones, studying causes, ensuring rapid intervention, and driving behavioural change.
Fast-paced development means little if highways turn into corridors of death. The government must enforce strict driving norms, deploy vehicle-mounted surveillance to track and punish rash drivers instantly, and ensure accountability — so this initiative doesn’t become just another press release forgotten tomorrow.
Lives are being lost every single day. It is time to fix responsibility, enforce discipline, punish negligence, and protect citizens on the road. Uttar Pradesh simply cannot afford to look away any longer.
#RoadSafetyUP #UPPolice #TrafficReform #ZeroFatalityMission #RoadAccidentCrisis #PublicSafetyFirst #UPDevelopment #AccountabilityNow