Srinagar: The death of a 28-year-old motorcyclist in Srinagar on Thursday has once again highlighted the growing road-safety concerns surrounding two-wheeler riders in Kashmir, where motorcycle and scooty accidents continue to claim lives and leave hundreds injured every year.
Official data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) for 2024 recorded 840 road accident deaths in Jammu and Kashmir, of which 202 involved two-wheeler occupants, accounting for nearly one-fourth of all road fatalities in the Union Territory. The data also recorded 2,198 injuries among two-wheeler riders and passengers.
In Srinagar alone, NCRB figures show that 114 people were injured and six lost their lives in two-wheeler-related accidents during 2024.
A hospital-based study conducted at SKIMS Medical College Hospital, Bemina, underlines the risks associated with non-compliance with safety measures. The study, which examined 200 adult two-wheeler accident victims, found that only 18 percent were wearing helmets at the time of the crash.
According to the study, 164 victims were not wearing helmets, with head injuries significantly more common among non-helmeted riders. Fourteen of the 15 deaths recorded in the study involved riders who were not wearing helmets.
Traffic data accessed by Kashmir News Trust reveals that rural Kashmir recorded 1,502 road accidents and 210 fatalities in 2025, compared to 1,729 accidents and 279 deaths in 2024, indicating a decline but still reflecting a significant road-safety challenge.
Traffic authorities have repeatedly flagged over-speeding, dangerous stunts, wrong-side driving and reckless riding as major contributors to accidents involving motorcycles and scooters. During 2025, Traffic Police Rural Kashmir identified and booked 30 individuals for performing dangerous stunts on public roads. Officials have also reported that nearly 90 percent of two-wheeler riders in rural areas are now using helmets.
Recent weeks have witnessed several fatal and serious accidents involving motorcycles and scooties in Srinagar, Shopian, Ramban and other districts. In August, a scooty rider died in Srinagar’s Parimpora area, while a woman travelling as a pillion rider was killed after a scooty skidded in Shopian.
Officials say the increasing dependence on motorcycles and scooters as affordable and convenient modes of transport has made rider safety a critical concern. While enforcement drives and awareness campaigns continue, road-safety experts stress that sustained adherence to traffic rules, responsible riding and consistent helmet use remain key to reducing fatalities.
A traffic official observed that the real measure of success lies not in the number of challans issued but in preventing accidents and saving lives on the roads.