Thu Feb 05 18:25:09 UTC 2026: # Karnataka High Court Urges Caution as Road Accident Fatalities Remain High

The Story:
The Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka, Vibhu Bakhru, has issued a strong appeal for cautious and disciplined road use following the revelation that pedestrians constitute nearly 28% of the 60,000 road accident fatalities recorded in Karnataka between 2019 and 2025. He emphasized the simplicity and effectiveness of safe driving practices during the valedictory ceremony of the electronic-Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR) implementation and National Road Safety Month. The event, jointly organized by the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, and the Transport and Police Departments took place in Bengaluru on Thursday, February 5, 2026.

The implementation of e-DAR, an online system designed to streamline accident reporting and processing, was also inaugurated. Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy highlighted the platform’s potential to improve coordination among departments and enhance road safety through centralized data management and analysis. The virtual court system, which has processed over 1,33,000 traffic challans and collected over ₹115.16 crore in fines, has also been lauded for reducing the burden on regular courts.

Key Points:

  • Nearly 28% of the 60,000 road accident deaths in Karnataka between 2019 and 2025 were pedestrians.
  • Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru urged road users to be cautious and disciplined.
  • The electronic-Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR) system was officially implemented to improve accident reporting and processing.
  • Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy emphasized the importance of the e-DAR platform for enhancing road safety.
  • Virtual courts have processed over 1,33,000 traffic challans, collecting over ₹115.16 crore in fines.

Key Takeaways:

  • Road safety remains a critical issue in Karnataka, with a disproportionate number of pedestrian fatalities.
  • The implementation of e-DAR signifies a move towards leveraging technology to improve road safety and justice administration.
  • Virtual courts are proving effective in handling traffic violations and reducing the burden on traditional courts.
  • A coordinated effort involving the judiciary, transport department, and police is essential to addressing road safety concerns.
  • While technological solutions are important, behavioral changes among road users are vital for reducing accidents.

Impact Analysis:

The implementation of the e-DAR system has the potential to significantly improve the efficiency of accident reporting and claims processing. This could lead to faster compensation for victims and their families. The centralized data collection facilitated by e-DAR can also enable better analysis of accident trends, informing targeted interventions to improve road safety. The continued use of virtual courts is expected to alleviate the pressure on the court system and expedite the resolution of traffic-related cases. The success of this program could lead to its expansion to other states in India.

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