NEW DELHI: On the bustling streets of Delhi, a trend is causing concern – individuals aged 40 years and above are facing a high risk of fatal road accidents. According to police data, this age group accounted for the highest number of deaths in the first six months of both 2024 and 2025.
This year, 700 people have lost their lives in road incidents across Delhi. The highest number of fatalities, 205, was of those aged 40 and above, followed by the 19-30 age group with 185 deaths and the 31-40 group with 156 fatalities. Among children aged 10 and under, 24 deaths were reported, while the 11-18 age group accounted for 22. In 108 cases, the age of the deceased could not be determined.In 2024, the total death toll was higher at 778, of which 243 fatalities were among individuals aged 40 and above. This was closely followed by the 19-30 age group with 241 deaths. The 31-40 category recorded 152 fatalities. Among younger victims, 18 were aged 10 and under, while 17 were between 11 and 18 years old. There were 107 cases in which the age of the deceased remained unknown.Total injuries increased slightly year-on-year, from 2,566 in Jan-June 2024 to 2,617 in 2025. The 19-30 age group consistently recorded the highest number of injuries in road accidents, with 838 cases in 2024 and 803 in 2025. Those aged 40 and above followed, reporting 701 injuries in 2024 and 683 in 2025. The 31-40 age group saw a modest decline from 486 to 475 injuries, while injuries among teenagers aged 11-18 dropped from 141 to 124. Children aged 10 and under recorded the lowest injury figures in both years, declining from 83 to 57. Overall,Unknown age cases rose significantly from 317 in 2024 to 475 in 2025.According to traffic expert SP Singh, people over the age of 40 form a significant portion of road users, primarily because they are actively engaged in jobs that require daily commuting. These individuals often have tight schedules and feel the pressure to reach their destinations on time, which leads them to drive their vehicles, especially motorcycles, more frequently and sometimes hastily. This urgency on the road increases their risk of being involved in accidents.“On the road, the elderly people are essentially helpless,” Singh added. “Due to widespread encroachments, there are very few, if any, footpaths available for them to use safely. This forces them to walk on the road itself, exposing them to constant danger. While trying to cross busy streets, they become vulnerable and often end up as victims of road accidents.”Anil Chhikara, a transport and vehicle expert, explained that the primary reason for the high number of accidents involving young people was reckless driving and speeding beyond permitted limits. He noted that many youths lacked proper road safety training when they started driving. “What I feel is that road safety education is lacking among young drivers. They are often handed vehicles without receiving adequate duties and desired skills on how to drive safely or how to be responsible on the road,” Chhikara said.A police officer pointed out several reasons for the deaths of children, one of which is underage driving or driving without helmets. “We have found that in many cases, they are driving recklessly, a big factor in accidents,” he said. For younger children, accidents often occur when they lose control near vehicles while crossing roads or playing on the streets and are hit by passing vehicles. Reckless driving by other drivers also contributes significantly to the effect on the younger kids.Ajay Chaudhary, special commissioner of police (traffic), said that teams were deployed at various locations to curb rule violations and accidents. “In addition, we also conduct large-scale awareness campaigns to educate people about road safety,” he said.