India among world’s most dangerous countries to drive: Zutobi

Norway, Japan & Iceland safest countries for driving

India ranks among the top five countries with the world’s most dangerous roads, according to Zutobi’s latest global road safety report.

A new global road safety report by Zutobi, an online driver education platform, places India among the top five countries with the most dangerous roads. The study highlights critical issues such as high fatality rates, poor seat-belt usage, and inadequate enforcement of traffic laws, underscoring the urgent need for stronger road safety measures across the country.

In a press statement, Zutobi says that with an overall safety driving score of just 5.30 out of 10, India is positioned only slightly ahead of Argentina, which follows with a score of 5.22.

It adds that despite having a highway speed limit of 120 km/h, comparable to safer countries like Japan and Estonia, India’s road safety statistics are deeply concerning.

According to report only 7.3 pc of front-seat passengers in cars are reported to wear seat belts, one of the lowest compliance rates among countries included in the report.

It adds that each year, India records over 150,000 fatalities due to road accidents, making it one of the deadliest countries for drivers and pedestrians alike.

Zutobi report examines countries based on five indicators namely estimated road traffic death rate per 100,000 population, motorway speed limits, seat-belt usage rates, the percentage of deaths attributed to alcohol, and legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits.

It adds that India performs poorly in most of these categories. Although its BAC limit stands at 0.03 pc, which is stricter than the 0.08 pc limit seen in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, enforcement remains weak and inconsistent. Alcohol-related accidents continue to be a significant cause of road fatalities across the country.

The statement adds that in comparison, countries ranked as the safest such as Norway, Iceland, and Japan have established a model of combining strict regulations with public adherence and education.

It adds that Norway, which tops the list for the fourth consecutive year, reports a road traffic death rate of just 1.5 per 100,000 people. It enforces a low BAC limit of 0.02 pc and has a seat-belt usage rate nearing 98 pc.

Zutobi  says that Japan, which moved up to the third position this year, similarly benefits from high seat-belt compliance and a strong culture of road safety, resulting in a safety score of 7.86. These countries demonstrate that legal measures alone are insufficient without active public participation and awareness.

It adds that the most dangerous countries alongside India include South Africa, Thailand and the United States.

Report says that South Africa has the highest proportion of alcohol-related road traffic deaths at 57.5 pc, while Thailand leads in overall road fatalities with 25.4 deaths per 100,000 people.

It adds that the United States, despite having extensive road infrastructure, sees approximately 40,000 road deaths annually, owing to issues like distracted driving, speeding and a relatively relaxed BAC limit of 0.08 pc.

It further adds that countries like Malaysia have shown that change is possible. Once among the most dangerous, Malaysia has significantly improved its road safety indicators, lowering its death rate and recording the lowest alcohol-related fatality rate at just 0.1 pc.

Zutobi’s findings suggest that to reduce road fatalities, countries must go beyond legal limits and speed regulations.

The report recommends regular driver education, including refresher courses and awareness campaigns focussed on the most common causes of accidents such as speeding, drunk driving, distracted driving and failure to wear seat belts.

It adds that for India, these findings are particularly urgent. Without substantial improvements in enforcement and public awareness, the country’s roads will remain among the most hazardous in the world.