Tamil Nadu road deaths average 53 per day in first nine months of 2026
While statewide fatalities have increased, Chennai recorded a decline in road deaths and injuries through October, according to The Times of India.
Tamil Nadu recorded an average of 53 deaths per day on its roads during the first nine months of 2026, according to a road safety analysis reported by The Times of India. Through September, the state saw 14,373 deaths and 56,602 crashes, compared to an average of 51 deaths and 195 crashes per day in 2025.
The daily average of crashes rose to 210 between July and September, up from 206 between January and June. Police attributed the increase in crashes to personnel being diverted to election duty. Between 2022 and 2025, the state's 4.1 crore registered vehicles grew by 17 per cent, while crashes rose 11 per cent and deaths rose 3.5 per cent.
Chennai bucked the statewide trend by reporting 402 deaths between January and October, down from 420 in the previous year. Injuries in the city also fell to 2,865 from 2,997. Joint commissioner of police for traffic (South) P Pakalavan said greater enforcement against speeding, drunken driving and helmet violations, alongside improvements at accident-prone locations, contributed to the reduction.
Transport commissioner Sigy Thomas Vaidhyan noted that nearly 70 per cent of crashes happen away from national highways. Other district roads accounted for 32 per cent of crashes, major district roads 19 per cent, and rural roads 12 per cent. The state has identified 7,723 hotspots and completed 5,356 interventions, with 2,367 awaiting action.
The state plans to pilot Vizhi, which uses artificial intelligence and dashboard cameras to flag violations, in 100 enforcement vehicles. A companion programme, ThiranAI, will provide training for new drivers and refresher courses for offenders. These measures are part of a two-year timeline.