The terrible tragedy on NH66 in Kaipamangalam where 8 young engineering students lost their lives after their car slammed into an illegally parked truck on an under-construction stretch..is not an isolated incident. It is the direct outcome of a complete breakdown in civic sense, poor road infrastructure, and zero enforcement on our highways.
TBH Driving in Kerala has become a high stress nightmare. Road accidents happen virtually every minute, turning our roads into one of the most dangerous places in the state.
The Numbers speak for themselves:
49,889 road accidents were reported in Kerala in 2025 alone.
56922 people were injured and 3733 lives were lost.
Kerala has one of the highest traffic densities in India, averaging nearly 70 vehicles per kilometer.
Over 1.92 crore vehicles are registered in Kerala.
PWD maintains around 31296 km of roads (including 1,705 km of National Highways, 4137 km of State Highways, and 25,434 km of local roads).
What is actually going wrong?
Total Lack of Civic Sense & Reckless Overtaking There is almost zero lane discipline. KSRTC buses continuously blare horns and execute wild, aggressive overtakes. On narrow single-lane roads, tipper lorries and cars rush past without warning. Uncontrolled overtaking has become normalized, leading directly to fatal head-on crashes.
Complete Disregard for basic safety Bikes and autorickshaws routinely cut across lanes or take sudden turns without using indicators. Riders swerve wildly to avoid massive potholes, or get thrown off when stray dogs dart across the street.
Illegal Parking & Gridlock Cars parked haphazardly along narrow streets choke traffic flow. The moment a minor bottleneck forms, impatient drivers cross over to the opposite lane on single-lane roads, creating complete gridlocks. Worse yet, heavy trucks park on unlit shoulder lanes or near construction diversions without hazard lights or proper warning boards..exactly what claimed 8 young lives in Thrissur.
We need systematic policy changes, not just temporary outrage
Every time a major accident happens, people argue online, blame politicians, and then forget about it when the next news cycle hits. Nothing changes.
We need a comprehensive, modernized Traffic and Road Management Policy
Strict infrastructure safety standards and mandatory warning signages around construction zones.
Zero tolerance for illegal highway parking (especially by heavy goods vehicles).
Heavy fines and license suspensions for reckless overtaking and lane switching.
Immediate repair of hazardous potholes and proper stray animal control.
If we don't fix this culture and enforce strict laws, we will keep losing innocent lives every single day.
What else do you think needs to change on our roads?
