The fatality rate per 10,000 vehicles fell steadily from 10.30 in 2005 to 2.10 in 2021 in the State, as per statistics collated by Kerala Road Safety Authority (KRSA). The figure had touched 2.0 in 2020.
It declined to 9.40 in 2007, 7.90 in 2009, 6.80 in 2011, 5.30 in 2013, 4.50 in 2015, 3.70 in 2017, and 3.30 in 2019. This despite the number of motorised vehicles in Kerala increasing four-fold, from 40 lakh in 2007 to 160 lakh in 2021.
Official sources attributed it to enhanced safety consciousness, better adherence to wearing helmet, seat belt, improved safety standards of vehicles and reliance on CCTVs to penalise violators.