The Yamuna Expressway, a vital 165-kilometre thoroughfare connecting Greater Noida with Agra, has witnessed an alarming trend in road fatalities attributed to drowsy driving, accounting for a staggering 40% of deaths on the high-speed corridor.
Despite its inception in 2012 with a designated speed limit of 100 kmph for Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs), the expressway has become a hotspot for road accidents, with an average of 110 casualties reported annually. Data obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) query by the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) sheds light on the grim toll of road accidents on the expressway between 2012 and 2023. During this period, the expressway recorded a total of 1,321 fatalities, 11,168 injuries, and 7,625 accidents, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced safety measures and vigilant enforcement of traffic regulations. Of particular concern is the prevalence of drowsy driving as the leading cause of fatalities, claiming the lives of 376 individuals between 2017 and 2023, marking a significant increase from the previous years. Negligent driving and over-speeding emerged as the second and third major contributing factors, resulting in 293 and 201 deaths, respectively, during the same period.
Further analysis of YEIDA’s data reveals additional factors contributing to road accidents on the Yamuna Expressway, including tyre bursts, drunken driving incidents, and other instances of reckless behavior. Despite witnessing over 23.21 crore vehicular movements over the past 12 years, the expressway has experienced numerous accidents and fatalities, highlighting the critical need for proactive safety initiatives and infrastructure improvements. As road safety remains a paramount concern, stakeholders must prioritise comprehensive measures to address the root causes of accidents, including driver fatigue, inadequate enforcement of traffic laws, and infrastructure deficiencies. Collaborative efforts between government agencies, law enforcement authorities, and transportation stakeholders are imperative to enhance safety standards and mitigate the alarming toll of road fatalities on the Yamuna Expressway.
