Road Accidents Kill More Than War, Covid: Gadkari Urges MPs to Act on Safety

• Union Minister Nitin Gadkari stated in Parliament that road accidents claim 1.8 lakh lives annually in India, surpassing war and Covid-19 casualties.
• He attributed the high death toll to poor road discipline and risky human behavior, with nearly 5 lakh accidents occurring each year.
• The majority of victims (66%) are young people aged 18-34, highlighting a critical demographic impact.
• Gadkari urged MPs to actively promote road safety awareness campaigns and requested a dedicated parliamentary discussion on the issue.
• The 'Rah-Veer' scheme rewards individuals with Rs 25,000 for assisting road accident victims, encouraging timely help.

Why It Matters: India's road accident deaths exceed war/Covid, demanding urgent public and parliamentary action.