Mumbai: Maharashtra recorded its lowest accident rate per 10,000 vehicles in a decade in 2025, even as the absolute number of crashes inched up, the state economic survey report has shown. The accident rate fell steadily from 25 in 2015 to 15 in 2016, 10 in 2019, 8 in 2022 and 7 in 2025, indicating that road risk per vehicle has reduced despite a growing vehicle population and expanding road network.Year-wise crash data, though, presents a more complex picture. Total crashes rose by 332 cases, from 36,118 in 2024 to 36,450 in 2025. Fatalities moved in the opposite direction, dipping by 166 deaths in 2025 compared to 2024, suggesting improved survivability and faster post-crash care even when collisions occur.Piyush Tewari, founder of non-profit SaveLIFE Foundation, said, “The reduction in road crashes per 10,000 vehicles since 2015 is encouraging, but it must be interpreted carefully. As the number of vehicles grows rapidly, even a relatively lower crash rate can still result in high absolute crashes and deaths. The increase in crashes from 2024 to 2025 shows Maharashtra continues to face a serious road safety challenge, with over 15,000 lives lost every year. Sustained reduction will require a stronger systems approach combining safer road design, consistent enforcement, safer vehicles and faster trauma care.”The report also flags a widening gap in penalty recovery. In 2025, 1.7 crore e-challans were issued; only 38 lakh were paid, while nearly 1.3 crore remained unpaid. The unpaid fines rose to Rs 1,344 crore in 2025 from Rs 1,095 crore in 2024 and Rs 770 crore in 2023.Typically, the state traffic department attempts to resolve pending e-challan cases through the Lok Adalat. Notices are sent to motorists asking them to clear their dues, or else appear before the Lok Adalat. Apart from Lok Adalats, the only other mechanism for recovery of fines is to check a motorist’s challan payment history—whenever he is intercepted on the road for a violation—and request him to clear all dues on the spot. The state traffic department had made a proposal to the home department offering solutions to aid recovery of challans, such as deduction of fines through FASTag accounts of motorists or linking vehicle insurance policies to the e-challan system that would provide for higher premiums for motorists with pending dues. The state is implementing the One State One eChallan system, backed by around 6,300 e-challan devices and 96 interceptor vehicles.
