Nagpur: Enhanced enforcement and a data-driven policing strategy have led to a significant decline in road accident fatalities across the Nagpur Highway Range, with officials reporting a 26% reduction in deaths during June and July 2026, even as action against drunk driving, speeding, helmet violations and no-parking offences witnessed a massive surge.

The improvement follows the appointment of Dr. Lohit Matani as head of the Nagpur Highway Range on May 20, 2026, after which a Data-Based Joint Action Plan was implemented in coordination with district police units.

Fatal accidents, deaths witness steep decline

During June and July 2026, the number of fatal road accidents across the range dropped from 442 to 329, while 128 fewer people lost their lives, marking a 26% decline in fatalities compared to the same period in 2025.

On National Highways, State Highways and Expressways, fatal accidents fell by 23%, resulting in 68 lives being saved over the two-month period.

The positive trend has continued throughout the year. Between January 1 and August 3, 2026, fatal accidents across the Nagpur Highway Range reduced from 1,929 to 1,681, a 13% decline, preventing 305 deaths compared to the corresponding period last year.

Enforcement sees unprecedented rise

Alongside the fall in accidents, police significantly intensified enforcement against traffic violations during July 2026.

• Drunk driving cases surged from 6 in July 2025 to 827 in July 2026, an increase of 821 cases (13,683.33%).
• Speeding cases jumped from 2,296 to 25,843, an increase of 23,547 cases (1,025.57%).
• No-parking violations rose from 4,611 to 19,703, reflecting an increase of 15,092 cases (327.30%).
• Helmet violation cases also increased sharply from 1,384 to 23,487, a rise of 22,103 cases (1,597.04%).

Officials attributed the rise in enforcement figures to intensified highway patrols, targeted drives, improved surveillance and stricter implementation of traffic laws rather than an increase in violations alone.

Best-performing highway police stations

Among the Highway Police Stations (HSPs), Badnera HSP recorded the highest reduction in fatalities, bringing deaths down from 37 to 13, a 64.86% decline. Balapur HSP reduced fatalities from 22 to 10, registering a 54.55% decline, while Pathansangvi HSP reported the lowest absolute number of deaths at four, achieving a 60% reduction from 10 deaths last year.

Police officials said the combination of scientific analysis, coordinated enforcement and sustained vigilance has played a key role in improving road safety, and the intensified crackdown on traffic violations will continue in the coming months.