- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Thu, 22 Jan 2026 09:29 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The death of ten soldiers in a road accident in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday has once again brought road safety concerns into sharp focus. Official data shows that since June 2022, as many as 3,688 people have lost their lives in 20,135 road accidents across the UT, with speeding and careless driving accounting for nearly half of all crashes.
Over the past three-and-a-half years, road accidents have left 29,131 people seriously or moderately injured, affecting a total of 32,819 individuals. Data from the Integrated Road Accident Database (IRAD) and e-Detail Accident Report (EDAR) portals reveal that national highways have witnessed the highest number of accidents, particularly in the districts of Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur and Rajouri. Most accidents occur between 3 pm and 9 pm, while nearly 50 per cent of the crashes recorded in 2025 were attributed to overspeeding and negligent driving.
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In response to the grim statistics, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Thursday reviewed the road accident scenario and preventive measures in the UT. Stressing the need for data-driven interventions, he called for the use of GIS-based technology to identify accident-prone stretches and implement targeted technical and engineering solutions to reduce fatalities.
The review meeting, held to assess compliance with Supreme Court directives on road safety, was attended by administrative secretaries, senior traffic police officers and deputy commissioners via video conferencing. The Chief Secretary sought a detailed report on the status of implementation of the court’s directions and directed officials to prepare a clear, time-bound action plan. He emphasised strategic deployment of traffic police, engineering improvements at black spots and focused enforcement based on transport and traffic data.
Highlighting the importance of preventive action, the Chief Secretary called for strict punitive measures against habitual and serious traffic offenders. He advocated legal action, including suspension of driving licences and cancellation of registration certificates, for violations such as speeding and reckless driving.
The meeting also reviewed district-wise and monthly accident trends, accident timing, road classification and major causes, along with the progress of road construction agencies in addressing identified black spots. Measures such as installation of safety signage and speed-limiting devices in school buses were also assessed.
Transport Department Secretary Avni Lavasa informed the meeting that 40,197 challans were issued in 2024 and 52,543 in 2025, resulting in the recovery of fines worth Rs 10.15 crore and Rs 15.88 crore, respectively. Key violations included not wearing helmets, not using seat belts, mobile phone use while driving, overspeeding and jumping red lights. In 2025 alone, 1,528 vehicles were seized, 1,641 driving licences suspended, 10,439 vehicles blacklisted, 1,192 registration certificates cancelled, and 300 route permits revoked.
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IGP Traffic M Suleman said surveillance cameras installed at major junctions in Jammu and Srinagar under the Integrated Traffic Management System and Intelligent Light Traffic System have strengthened enforcement. He added that traffic police issued 12.36 lakh e-challans in 2023, 15.03 lakh in 2024 and 14.92 lakh in 2025, collecting fines of Rs 85.16 crore, Rs 120.09 crore and Rs 145.12 crore, respectively. In 2025, 15,947 vehicles were seized for violations of the Motor Vehicles Act.