Patna: Six districts in Bihar have emerged as some of the most accident-prone areas in India, according to national data identifying the 100 districts with the highest number of road crashes. Patna, Muzaffarpur, Saran, Motihari, Gaya and Nalanda are among those on the list, highlighting the scale of the road safety crisis in the state. Alarmed by the figures, the Bihar government has now set an ambitious goal of turning these districts into “zero fatality” zones, with special focus on the capital, Patna.
The state transport minister, Shravan Kumar, shared this information while addressing a meeting of transport ministers from all states and union territories in New Delhi. The meeting was chaired by the Union minister for road transport and highways at Bharat Mandapam. Kumar said the state government was seriously examining why accidents were happening so frequently in these districts and what steps could be taken to prevent them. He added that reducing road deaths was a priority and required coordinated efforts from multiple departments.
According to the minister, the government held 484 review meetings in 2025 alone to tackle the issue of road accidents. These meetings were conducted at the district level and involved district magistrates, superintendents of police, and officials from the transport, road construction and engineering departments. During these discussions, accident-prone locations, local traffic conditions and common risk factors such as speeding, poor road design and lack of signage were carefully reviewed.
Public awareness is also being seen as a key part of the solution. From 1 January to 31 January, the state is running large-scale awareness programmes in all districts to educate people about road safety rules, safe driving habits and the importance of wearing helmets and seatbelts. Officials believe that improving public behaviour on the roads is just as important as improving infrastructure.
Work is also underway to fix dangerous road stretches known as “black spots” and “grey spots”. Data shows that the number of black spots identified by the National Highways Authority of India has reduced over the past three years, from 160 in 2022 to 114 in 2024. The road construction department has reported a similar trend. At these locations, measures such as correcting sharp turns, installing signboards, widening roads and placing barricades are being carried out to make travel safer.
Emergency response after accidents is another major focus area. The state government has written to the health department to connect private ambulances with the 102 emergency service so that help can reach accident victims faster. To encourage people to help injured victims during the crucial “golden hour”, the government has announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for Good Samaritans who step in to provide assistance.
The data shows the seriousness of the situation. So far, 45,103 road accidents have been reported on the central government’s i-RAD and e-DAR portals, including 20,727 hit-and-run cases. While many cases have been processed, gaps remain in documentation and follow-up. Under existing schemes, accident victims are entitled to cashless treatment of up to Rs 1.5 lakh, while families of those killed in hit-and-run cases receive compensation of Rs 2 lakh. As Bihar pushes towards its zero-fatality target, the success of these measures will depend on how effectively policies are implemented on the ground and whether safer roads can truly be delivered to the public.
