Bengaluru saw fewer road accident deaths in 2025 for the second straight year despite a slight rise in total accidents, with outskirts reporting 27% of fatal incidents
Bengaluru Reports Increase in Road Accidents in 2025
Bengaluru experienced a slight rise in road accidents in 2025, with 4,893 incidents reported compared to 4,769 in 2024, according to Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) data. However, the number of fatal accidents and deaths has decreased for the second consecutive year.
Accident Trends and Hotspots
The outskirts of the city have become hotspots for fatal incidents. The top five police stations located on the city’s fringes accounted for 27% of the accidents, as revealed by ASTraM data.
From 2021 to 2025, the number of accidents was lower than in the 2011-2015 period. However, the percentage of fatal accidents increased by 4.8%. This trend is linked to policy changes and the addition of four police stations to the city limits in 2025.
Improvements in Fatalities
Overall, 2025 showed improvements compared to previous years. There was a significant drop in self-accidents and a slight decline in pedestrian deaths.
In 2024, 212 people died from self-accidents, while 210 died in 2023. In 2025, this number fell to 180, a 15% decrease. Pedestrian deaths due to road accidents also decreased to 225 in 2025 from 233 in 2024, down from 260 in 2023.
Police Insights and Safety Concerns
Karthik Reddy, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), credited the improvements to better enforcement and special initiatives like drunk-driving checks, which helped reduce accidents.
A senior police officer from the north division stated that scientific methods, such as closing entry and exit points and U-turns on the outskirts, were implemented to reduce accidents. However, he acknowledged that pedestrian safety remains a significant issue.
“There is a dire need for foot-over-bridges in the city, especially on highways. Most bridges within the city are not used due to poor maintenance,” he said. He added that the situation is expected to improve in 2026 with the formation of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), which is enhancing coordination.
Injury Statistics and Infrastructure Issues
Injuries remain a concern. In 2024, 3,900 non-fatal accidents resulted in 4,022 injuries. This number increased to 4,050 non-fatal accidents in 2025, leading to 4,272 injuries.
The officer explained that the city is seeing more vehicles and congestion, which is causing an increase in minor accidents. He noted that even minor injuries are now being reported, which was not the case before.
“We must also consider infrastructure limitations and ongoing works, as they often contribute to accidents. In such cases, people seek FIRs to claim insurance, leading to an increase in reported numbers,” the officer said.
Historical Accident Data
| Period | Total Accidents | Fatal Accidents (%) | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-2015 | 26,588 | 13.64% | 3,770 |
| 2016-2020 | 21,671 | 14.79% | 3,534 |
| 2021-2025 | 21,671 | 18.30% | 4,108 |
Policy Changes and Enforcement Challenges
The police noted a policy change after 2020. “Earlier, some self-accident cases were booked as Unnatural Death Reports (UDRs), which led to the loss of insurance compensation. Now, self-accidents are being registered as FIRs,” an officer said.
Another officer mentioned a decline in on-ground enforcement, which led to negligent driving, especially riding without helmets, from 2021 to 2025. He believes this contributed to the rise in fatal accidents, as commuters felt less fear of enforcement during these years.
Top Police Stations for Fatal Accidents
According to data, the top five police stations with fatal accidents are:
| Police Station | Fatal Accidents |
|---|---|
| Yelahanka | 49 |
| Chikkajala | 42 |
| Electronics City | 38 |
| Devanahalli Airport | 36 |
| K.R. Puram | 30 |
A senior officer from the northeast division noted that these areas have relatively free roads and highways, where speeding is a major concern leading to fatalities. He added that Yelahanka and K.R. Puram cover larger areas, where enforcement may be limited, contributing to higher accident numbers.
“Stretches such as the airport road are signal-free, and many motorists speed, leading to accidents. However, violations have reduced after the installation of cameras,” he said.
Future Plans for Traffic Management
This year, the traffic police plan to address issues scientifically by developing strategies based on data and enhancing multi-department coordination. They believe the GBA could be a game changer this year.
