Dangerous Roads: India

The roads of North India stretch from the peaks of the Himalayas to the capital New Delhi. Every day, more than 100 million people use them and they account for 11% of all accidents worldwide. 

With 450,000 accidents and 150,000 deaths every year, the number of deaths on Indian roads is eight times higher than that of the European Union. There are several reasons for these staggering figures. The roads themselves are built without asphalt or guardrails, and are used by a mix of carts, motorcycles, cars and animals. Northern India has nearly 380 million inhabitants, and among them thousands of farmers who travel only with buffaloes or horses. They also use the highways, risking their lives and causing spectacular accidents. 

But the chaotic traffic and users who drive dangerously and disregard any rules cause additional problems. Drivers do not hesitate to drive against the flow of traffic or to overtake on both sides. The thick fog that spreads regularly in the New Delhi region causes terrible crashes every year. And in the Himalayas, any mistake can be fatal. The slightest deviation from the road propels cars and trucks into ravines of more than 300 metres depth.