Head injuries account for large number of fatalities in road accidents in Puducherry

With head injuries to two-wheeler riders accounting for a large number fatalities in traffic accidents reported in the Union Territory during 2024, the focus is back on stricter enforcement of road rules and public awareness on the importance of wearing headgear while riding motorbikes or scooters.

As per the data furnished in the Puducherry Road Safety Report-2024, a total of 221 people were killed and 1,548 sustained injuries in 1,391 accidents. A significant number of cases of injuries or fatalities were due to a failure to wear safety gear. Helmet was the primary safety device linked to fatalities and injuries, with 79 persons killed, 225 sustaining grievous injuries, and 288 sustaining minor injuries due to the failure to wear a helmet, the report said.

“The number of fatalities shows the need for wearing a helmet while riding a two-wheeler. We have been enforcing the helmet rule more vehemently, especially in stretches outside the town limits. A total of 35,436 challans were issued for non-compliance with the helmet rule last year. But we want the people to voluntarily wear headgear while riding two-wheelers,” a police officer said.

The data also revealed that the number of fatalities and accidents increased substantially last year. A total of 1,255 accidents were reported in 2023, and the figure rose to 1,391 in 2024. Accidents rose by 10.84%, and injuries by 4.31% over the previous year. The maximum number of fatalities occurred on Cuddalore Road. Of the total deaths, 53 were due to accidents along the Puducherry-Cuddalore stretch, followed by 46 deaths reported along the Villupuram stretch.

An analysis revealed that the majority of the accidents occurred during evening hours, particularly from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. While 20.35% of the accidents occurred during the late evening hours, 17.47% of the accidents occurred from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Another important factor highlighted in the analysis was the age of the vehicles and the people involved in road accidents. In the last two years, a majority of the vehicles involved in accidents were aged 15 or older. Besides, a majority of the people killed in accidents were above 60 years of age. While 66 people who lost their lives in accidents in 2023 were above 60, in 2024, 63 people of this age group were killed in accidents.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Traffic, Nithya Radhakrishnan, said the police had identified 34 accident-prone areas, mainly along Cuddalore Road, in Puducherry.

“Compared to 2024, fatalities in 2025 have reduced significantly at these locations due to measures such as temporary medians, CCTVs, stakeholder consultations with bus drivers and colleges, and road safety awareness drives. Efforts are on to bring down fatalities further,” she said.