Delhi records 524 pedestrian deaths by mid-October, many vehicles unidentified

Delhi Traffic Police figures indicate that 524 pedestrians lost their lives in road accidents through Oct 15, with 262 deaths linked to vehicles that could not be identified. Private cars were responsible for 69 fatalities and motorcycles or scooters for 56, while heavy trucks, buses and even e-rickshaws accounted for additional deaths. In total, 519 fatal crashes and 1,322 non-fatal incidents injured 1,518 pedestrians, 429 of the non-fatal crashes involving unknown vehicles.

The police’s road-crash cell analyses these patterns, flagging stretches with five-to-ten deaths a year as hotspots for further study and engineering interventions. DTC buses alone were involved in 14 fatal crashes, a rise from nine the previous year, prompting investigation into the causes. Overall, the data underscore persistent challenges in identifying offending vehicles and improving pedestrian safety in the capital.