For immediate release
Cuddalore, Jul 18, 2026
India has seen a consistent rise in road crash fatalities, driven by expanding road networks and faster vehicles. There has been a constant upward trend since 2005 with the road crash fatalities increasing by 2.5% in 2024 compared to 2023. Tamil Nadu has recorded the highest number of road crashes in India for seven consecutive years in 2024. The state recorded 18,449 road crash fatalities, with Cuddalore alone accounting for 3121 road crashes and 585 road crash fatalities. To highlight the need for a robust State Road Safety Action Plan and to address the tragedy of lives and livelihoods lost on our roads, Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG) hosted a multi-stakeholder workshop with the help of Tamil Nadu Consumer Education and Development Foundation (TAMCED), at the Abiram Hotel, Cuddalore.
The District Collector of Cuddalore, Mr. Sibi Adhithya Senthilkumar who gave the keynote address at the event particularly mentioned the fatality risk on pedestrians and two-wheeler riders, ‘even though’, he added, ‘what we hear about are road crashes involving big buses and cars.’ While Tamil Nadu was an early adopter of a Road Safety Policy in 2007, even ahead of the National Road Safety Policy in 2010, an updated and structured State Road Safety Action Plan is critical to achieving the national goal of reducing road crashes deaths by 50% by 2030.
The Welcome Address was delivered by Mr. Arul Selvam from TAMCED. Ms. Nina Subramani and Ms. Kavipriya from CAG presented on the current road safety scenario and the need for a State Road Safety Plan for Cuddalore which would serve as a strong institutional framework. Adopting a safe systems approach, making data-driven decisions, and setting achievable targets as essential aspects of a Road Safety Action Plan was acknowledged by all speakers.
Reminding the audience of their responsibility to road safety, the Deputy Superintendent of Police, S. Thamizh Iniyan reminded riders to wear helmets, not drink and drive, not use cell phones and not to speed and spoke about public awareness as an important part of the solution to the road safety crisis.
Dr. M.V. Thambaiah, Superintendent of Government Hospital, Cuddalore underlined the importance of post-trauma care. He emphasised the concept of platinum minutes - the first 10 minutes after a road crash and the golden hour - the one hour of a road crash where emergency care can make the difference between life and death.
The event brought together representatives from key government departments, enforcement agencies, consumer organisation, the health and education sectors, transport authorities, hotel owners association representatives, Cuddalore city Councillors, Trader’s Association, commercial and driver associations, civil society organisations, resident welfare associations, and members of the public, reflecting the broad-based collaboration required to improve road safety outcomes. Speaking particularly about the road safety issues specific to Cuddalore, State Secretary of Tamil Nadu Fisherman Association Mr. Gajendran spoke about the encroachment of footpaths by vendors. The head of the Women's Self-help Group Federation Ms. Jaya further spoke about the absence of a robust bus network, forcing people in rural areas to use 2-wheelers to carry agricultural products, resulting in crashes.
The discussion reinforced that preventing road crashes requires coordinated action across sectors and sustained commitment at the district level. The proposed District Road Safety Action Plan will provide a roadmap for evidence-based interventions, stronger institutional coordination, and measurable targets, enabling Cuddalore to make meaningful progress towards safer roads and contributing to Tamil Nadu's and India's road safety goals.
About CAG
Citizen consumer & civic Action Group (CAG) is a forty year old non-profit and non-political organisation working on citizen rights and good governance. It has worked primarily to protect the interests of consumers and citizens of Chennai even as its efforts have had state level and even national level impacts.
Press queries may be addressed to Nina S, Senior Researcher, Road Safety & Sustainable Mobility, CAG | 8754415824 | nina.subramani@cag.org.in