Delhi roads remain hazardous as 2024 sees 7 new black spots and 5% increase in fatal crashes

Delhi roads remain hazardous

With seven new black spots, the roads of the national capital remained hazardous in 2024. Black spots are the areas that report the highest number of fatal accidents.

As per a Times of India report, the top 10 black spots accounted for 170 accidents in the year, with a staggering 42.5% proving fatal, claiming 79 lives.

Delhi Traffic Police's annual assessment says that the overall road accidents saw a marginal decline of 3% (from 5,834 in 2023 to 5,657 in 2024), but fatal crashes surged by 5%, rising from 1,432 to 1,504. Older black spots are improving due to targeted interventions, but new danger zones are emerging rapidly, posing deadly risks for the people.

Azadpur Sabzi Mandi remains at the top with 20 accidents, 11 of which were fatal—reflecting a 55% fatality rate. It was a black spot in 2020 as well. As per the area officials, the reasons behind the spike are ongoing metro construction, poor road conditions, and chaotic traffic management. This is a sharp rise as compared to last year's top black spot, ISBT-Kashmere Gate-Ring Road, which had a fatality rate of 36.8%.

A newly identified black spot near Akshardham Temple reported 19 accidents, with eight of them resulting in fatalities.

Half of the accidents that happened at the Anand Vihar ISBT turned deadly.

Other new entries include SGT Nagar, Rajokri Flyover, and the area near Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in Dwarka, each recording seven fatal accidents. Libaspur Bus Stand logged six fatal crashes.

Traditional high-risk zones like Wazirabad, ISBT Kashmere Gate, and Bhalswa Chowk remain on the list. With nine fatalities out of 15 accidents, Wazirabad moved from 8th to 2nd place.

ISBT Kashmere Gate, last year’s top spot, slipped to 3rd, while Bhalswa Chowk climbed from 9th to 7th.

As per the officials, there are multiple factors behind this increasing fatality rate, including speeding, lack of safety barriers at construction sites, poor pedestrian infrastructure, and rampant traffic violations.

The expressway near Akshardham permits high-speed driving despite restrictions on two-wheeler movement—rules that are frequently flouted, leading to fatal crashes. Narrow stretches near ISBT and Wazirabad, dense with pedestrian traffic, are particularly hazardous at night due to speeding vehicles.

“Seven black spots have moved out of the list, showing that our road engineering efforts have made an impact. However, new ones have emerged, especially in areas with speeding issues, high pedestrian movement, and inadequate construction barriers,” said Satya Vir Katara, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic).

Delhi Traffic Police plans to install cautionary signboards at newly identified black spots and improve road infrastructure for vulnerable users. They also plan to intensify enforcement of helmet laws and the usage of Zebra crossing.