NEW DELHI: More than 1.8 lakh pedestrians were killed in road crashes across India between 2019 and 2024, averaging over 30,500 deaths annually, underscoring their vulnerability as the most at-risk category of road users. Govt data show that the National Highway (NH) network accounted for nearly 31% of all pedestrian fatalities during this period.The latest road crash data released by road transport ministry for 2024 reveals that nearly 54% of pedestrian deaths involved collisions with two-wheelers and cars, claiming 19,680 lives. Road safety experts said this points to how lack of safe footpaths and crossing infrastructure for pedestrians is the biggest reason behind India’s pedestrian fatality toll, which is among the highest globally.This high number of pedestrian deaths calls attention of policy makers and road construction and maintenance agencies in the light of the latest Supreme Court order upholding citizens fundamental rights to walk while directing govt to enact a law for well-demarcated footpaths for all road users. Even last year, the apex court had said that “rights of pedestrians to use footpaths are guaranteed under Article 21 of Constitution”.The 2024 report shows that Tamil Nadu recorded a maximum of 4,712 pedestrian deaths, followed by Bihar (4,149), Maharashtra (3,344) and West Bengal (3,241) during 2024.As per the road transport ministry’s latest report, 53 million-plus cities recorded 4,328 pedestrian deaths, which was 11.8% of all such fatalities. “This indicates that govt road owning agencies need to find out the exact reasons for pedestrian deaths outside major urban areas; providing safe passage for these road users across national and state highways and other major roads,” said Amar Srivastava, who heads India Road Safety Campaign, a youth-led organisation.Meanwhile, in another case which is before the SC, an amicus curiae has suggested that govt to install signage for pedestrians on highways and also alert them with signs mentioning “pedestrians don’t enter or pedestrians prohibited”.Welcoming the SC’s order, Abhay Damle, who dealt with road safety as a joint secretary in the road transport ministry, said, “We have well-established standards prescribed by the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) for pedestrian facilities and footpaths. The issue is not the absence of standards but the utter failure to implement them on ground. Unfortunately, many city roads are designed almost exclusively for vehicles, forcing pedestrians, including children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities to walk on the carriageway at considerable risk to their safety.”