At least 410 people lost their lives daily in road accidents across India last year compared to 400 lives in 2015.
On the other hand, the rate of rise in fatalities came down in 2016 compared to the previous year.
Data accessed by TOI showed nearly 1.5 lakh people were killed in accidents last year compared to 1.46 lakh in 2015.
India has recorded the maximum deaths in road accidents. Barring Mizoram and Union territories of Chandigarh, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, all other states and UTs have shared data with the Centre and the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety.
"The provisional data is a cause for concern as we`re trying to stabilise the number of fatalities and injuries and reduce them subsequently," an official said.
The government has announced that it will try to reduce fatalities by 50% in the next three years.
In 2016, only nine states and UTs, including Delhi, recorded decline in fatalities with Bihar leading the list.But a significant rise in deaths in six states, including UP, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, pushed the total to an all-time high since 1970.
Since 1970, road accident deaths has consistently increased, except in 2012 and 2013. Inadequate laws, poor enforcement and perception that "accidents are inevitable" are cited as main reasons behind the deaths.
"The entire ecosystem of safe roads, safe users, safe vehicles, enforceable law and fear of being caught for every single violation of traffic law have to be in place," said K K Kapila, president, International Road Federation.
Source: Times of India