Quick answers
Why are young people at higher risk in road accidents?
Overspeeding and overconfidence, drunk or late-night driving, mobile phone distraction, low awareness of risk, poor helmet and seatbelt use, and inexperience are major reasons.
How can young riders and drivers stay safe?
Stay below speed limits, never drive under the influence, wear an ISI-marked helmet, buckle up including in the rear seat, keep your phone on silent while driving, and avoid driving when tired.
What should I do if I see a road accident?
Call 108 or 112, help the victim, and do not record videos instead of helping.
Does using a phone while driving really increase accident risk?
Yes. Calls, social media and GPS use while driving distract you and delay your reactions, so keep your phone on silent while driving.
Most people killed on India’s roads are young. In 2023, 66.4% of road deaths were people aged 18 to 45 (MoRTH, Road Accidents in India 2023). That is about two of every three deaths, in the years when people study, start work, marry and raise children.
We are not losing these young people to war or disease. We are losing them to speed, carelessness and a lack of basic protection.
Who they are
When a young person dies in a crash, a family loses its future. These are not faceless numbers. They are:
- a college student rushing to an exam on a scooter;
- a delivery rider finishing a late-night shift;
- a young couple driving back from a weekend trip.
Most of these deaths could have been prevented.
Road deaths by age, 2023
| Age group | Road deaths, 2023 | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 9,489 children killed (about 5.5%) | Safe school transport, helmets and child seats matter |
| 18 to 45 | 66.4% | Students, young workers and new parents |
| 18 to 60 (includes 18 to 45) | 83.4% | Almost the whole working-age population |
Source: MoRTH, Road Accidents in India 2023. MoRTH reports deaths in these broad age bands, so a separate figure for 18 to 25 year olds is not shown here.
Why young people are most at risk
- Speed and overconfidence. Young riders often feel that nothing will happen to them, and speed makes every mistake worse.
- Drinking and late nights. Parties, tiredness and weak checking at night make a deadly mix.
- The phone. Calls, reels, chats and even following GPS while riding slow down your reactions.
- Helmets and seat belts. Peer pressure, hairstyles, heat or “it’s just round the corner” lead people to skip them.
- Inexperience. New drivers have not yet learnt to read the road and spot danger early.
- Two-wheelers. Riders of two-wheelers made up 44.8% of road deaths in 2023, and many young people ride one every day.
The numbers at a glance
- 1,72,890 people were killed on India’s roads in 2023, and 66.4% of them were aged 18 to 45.
- Two-wheeler riders were 44.8% of deaths in 2023.
- Over-speeding was linked to 68.1% of road deaths in 2023.
If you are young and on the road
- Slow down. Stay within the limit, even on an empty road at night.
- Never ride or drive after drinking. One bad night can ruin several families. Book a cab or stay over.
- Wear a proper helmet. Buy an ISI-marked helmet that fits, and fasten the strap every time. A cap-style helmet will not protect you.
- Buckle up, in the back seat as well as the front.
- Put the phone away. Set the route before you start, and keep the phone on silent while you ride or drive.
- Know when you are too tired. Long shifts and late nights slow you down as much as alcohol.
- If you see a crash, call 108 or 112 and help. Do not stand there filming.
For parents
Buy your child a good helmet before you buy the bike. Do not hand the keys to anyone under age. Agree a simple family rule: if anyone has had a drink, call home and someone will come to pick them up, no questions asked that night.
What needs to change
- Proper driving tests, including hazard awareness and defensive driving, before a licence is issued.
- Zero tolerance for underage driving and drink-driving, with steady checking at night.
- Road safety campaigns in colleges and workplaces that speak young people’s language.
- Lower insurance premiums for riders and drivers with clean records.
- Road safety taught in schools as part of the curriculum.
Make one promise today: “I will wear my helmet, follow the rules and look out for others on the road.” Then share it with a friend who rides.
What needs attention
- Two out of every three people killed on India's roads in 2023 were aged 18 to 45
- More than eight in ten were of working age, 18 to 60
- Nearly half of road deaths were two-wheeler riders, the vehicle most young people use
- Over-speeding was linked to more than two-thirds of deaths
- Phones, late nights and alcohol add to the risk for young riders
- 9,489 children under 18 were killed in 2023
Controls that reduce risk
- Buy an ISI-marked helmet that fits for every rider and pillion
- Make rear seat belts a rule in the family car
- Agree a no-questions pick-up rule for anyone who has been drinking
- Learn basic first aid and CPR
- Push your college or workplace for a road safety session
Common unsafe practices
- Riding without a helmet, or with the strap open
- Buying a cheap cap-style helmet instead of an ISI-marked one
- Racing on empty roads at night
- Riding or driving after drinking
- Using the phone or reels while riding
- Handing the bike keys to an underage child
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