Uttar Pradesh targets 50% reduction in road deaths by 2031 with helmet reforms
The Uttar Pradesh government has announced an ambitious target to reduce road accident fatalities by 50% by 2031 as part of its long-term road safety strategy. The announcement came during the 25th National Workshop on Road Safety and Best Practices, which gathered policymakers, transport officials and industry representatives from across India to discuss solutions to the growing road safety crisis.
Uttar Pradesh Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh acknowledged the significant challenges the state faces, including resource constraints but emphasised ongoing efforts to improve safety on the roads. He highlighted initiatives such as stricter vehicle fitness checks, child safety programs and enhanced enforcement to tackle preventable road deaths.
The state’s “Vision 2030 Roadmap” aims to address road safety through four key pillars: education, engineering, enforcement and emergency response. Transport Commissioner Brijesh Narayan Singh stressed that beyond statistics, saving lives on roads must be seen as a shared moral and humanitarian responsibility.
The workshop also saw the launch of “Mission Save Lives 2.0,” a nationwide initiative focusing on helmet safety, particularly addressing the issue of counterfeit helmets, which reportedly account for nearly half of the market. Rajeev Kapur, Managing Director of Steelbird Helmets and President of the 2 Wheeler Helmet Manufacturers Association, outlined the plan to phase out substandard helmets and raise awareness about proper head protection.
According to Kapur, nearly 54,000 of the 77,000 two-wheeler fatalities recorded in India in 2023 were linked to helmet non-compliance or use of substandard helmets. Mission Save Lives 2.0 will begin its rollout in major cities by 2028 and expand to rural areas by 2031. To meet demand for genuine BIS-certified helmets, India will require a fourfold increase in production, estimated to create around 80,000 new jobs with an investment of Rs. 6000 crore.
The campaign also advocates reducing the GST on helmets from 18% to 12%, along with a proposal to mandate the inclusion of two certified helmets with every two-wheeler sold starting January 2027.
As the state and central stakeholders align efforts to promote safer roads, initiatives like Vision 2030 and Mission Save Lives 2.0 mark significant steps toward reducing preventable deaths and enhancing road safety standards across India.
