Why Madhya Pradesh Needs Urgent Speed Management Frameworks

Madhya Pradesh is grappling with a severe road safety crisis, with overspeeding emerging as the single biggest threat. According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) 2023 report, the state recorded 55,327 road accidents, contributing 11.5% of India’s total and ranking second only to Tamil Nadu. Tragically, 13,798 people lost their lives in these crashes, representing 8% of the national total of 1,72,892 fatalities. This marks a rise from 13,427 deaths in 2022.

Overspeeding is the primary cause behind this alarming trend. In 2023 alone, Madhya Pradesh reported 44,592 overspeeding-related accidents, leading to 11,380 deaths and injuring over 30,000 people. In effect, nearly four out of five crashes in the state are caused by speeding, highlighting the urgent need for stronger interventions.

Why Speed Kills: The Science Behind the Crisis

Research consistently proves the deadly link between speed and crash severity. For every 1 km/h increase in speed, the risk of a crash with injury rises by 3%, while the risk of fatal crashes rises by 4–5%. A WHO study found that a car occupant involved in a crash at 80 km/h is 20 times more likely to die than one at 30 km/h.

As Professor Bhargab Maitra of IIT Kharagpur explains, “When a car’s speed increases from 30 km/h to 80 km/h, the likelihood of death in a crash increases 20-fold.” These figures underline why speed management is not just a matter of enforcement but of survival.

State-Specific Challenges in Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh faces unique challenges that compound the dangers of speeding. Narrow roads crowded with mixed traffic—ranging from cars and trucks to two-wheelers, cyclists, and pedestrians—make conditions especially hazardous. Industrial, commercial, and residential traffic often jostle for the same space, while poor lane discipline, slow-moving vehicles, and unauthorized motor vehicles further increase risks. These systemic issues demand a Safe System Approach that acknowledges human vulnerability and promotes shared responsibility.

Learning from West Bengal: A Case Study in Speed Management

West Bengal provides a strong example of how scientific speed management can work. Facing nearly 6,000 road fatalities annually, the state partnered with IIT Kharagpur to implement a Speed Management Framework. Roads were categorized by function and safety profile, with speed limits scientifically set between 25 km/h and 80 km/h.

This initiative—supported by transport, health, police, and other departments—was designed to save thousands of lives by ensuring speed limits matched real-world conditions. The collaborative effort reflects the Safe System principles, where reducing speed directly reduces fatalities, even when human error occurs.

For Madhya Pradesh, adopting a similar approach could be transformative. With overspeeding accounting for the majority of road deaths, a scientifically designed speed management system could drastically reduce fatalities.

The Way Forward

The rising toll of road crashes in Madhya Pradesh highlights an urgent need for policy-backed speed management. Conducting safe speed audits, enforcing realistic speed limits, and raising public sensitization on the dangers of speeding are immediate steps that can save lives.

As advocacy groups like Consumer VOICE emphasize, speed management is not merely about restricting vehicles—it is about protecting lives. With decisive government action, informed by scientific evidence and successful models like West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh can move closer to the national target of halving road fatalities by 2030.