Stray dogs, coconuts cause more road accidents than drunk driving in India: Report

Stray dogs, coconuts cause more road accidents than drunk driving in India: Report

Road safety continues to be a significant challenge in India, even with efforts by the government and the automotive industry to improve conditions. Metro cities bear the brunt of the problem, contributing to 78% of all incidents. A recent report named Acko Accident Index sheds light on alarming trends and peculiar causes behind road mishaps in the country. Here, let’s take a look at some of the highlights.

Accidents in India in 2024: Most accident-prone cities

Hyderabad emerged as the most accident-prone city, accounting for 16.4% of total road accidents, with Delhi NCR following closely at 15.9%. Other cities like Pune and Bengaluru contributed significantly as well. Among accident hotspots, Bengaluru’s Bommanahalli locality ranked highest, followed by Noida, Pune’s Marunji area, and Mira Road in Mumbai.

Accidents in India in 2024: Potholes and stray animals

Bengaluru reported a staggering 44.8% of all pothole-related accidents in metro cities, far ahead of Delhi (13.3%) and Mumbai (12.3%). Stray animals also remain a significant hazard, with stray dogs behind 62% of such incidents, followed by cows at 29% and buffaloes at 4%.
A surprising statistic from the report reveals that falling coconuts caused 2.2 times more accidents than drunk driving, drawing attention to the unpredictable risks on Indian roads. Natural calamities added to the woes, with 22% of claims in Chennai stemming from damage caused by Cyclone Michaung’s floods.

Among vehicles, the Hyundai i10 ranked as the most accident-prone car, followed by the Maruti Suzuki Swift, Baleno, i20, and Dzire.