Over the past four and a half years, Bengaluru has witnessed 3,536 fatal road accidents, yet only 7% of these cases have resulted in convictions. Despite an average of 11 accidents daily, including two fatal ones, most cases fail to reach closure through the legal system.
Experts and officials cite poor investigations, lack of eyewitness testimony, and prevalence of out-of-court settlements as major reasons for low conviction rates. According to official data from 2021 to July 2025, the city recorded 15,349 non-fatal and 3,536 fatal accidents. Of these, 250 fatal and 9,811 non-fatal cases led to convictions, while several others were disposed without clear accountability.
A senior police officer revealed that nearly 70–80% of fatal cases are resolved privately between the accused and victims’ families, often due to financial compensation via insurance claims. These civil proceedings are handled by the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) and typically conclude faster than criminal trials, which suffer from delays and lack of follow-through.
Advocate Rajalakshmi Angalagi emphasized the need to differentiate between negligent and reckless driving. She also pointed out that many cases collapse due to lack of credible witnesses, though she expressed optimism about CCTV footage and forensic evidence (like FSL reports) improving future conviction rates—especially in drunk driving cases.
Ultimately, experts stress the need for systematic police training, timely trials, and public cooperation to ensure justice for accident victims and deter dangerous driving.