Jumping signals, carrying extra passengers: Why Delhi’s e-rickshaw accidents are rising

CCTV camera footage of the incident went viral a day later that showed the e-rickshaw driver driving rashly before the vehicle overturns. Passersby catch him and hand him over to the police.

Data shared by the Delhi Traffic Police showed that this year, till September 15, 24 people were killed and 100 were injured in 108 road accidents that involved e-rickshaws. The number of deaths stood at 20 for the entire 2024.

Road safety experts and social activists opined that the number of e-rickshaws on Delhi roads is on the rise and the ease of last-mile connectivity have pushed their demand.

Atul Ranjeet Kumar, social, RTI & road safety activist, said, “E-rickshaws are increasing in Delhi causing safety threats in many areas. There is no doubt that, if controlled, these could be a great medium of last-mile connectivity. Policy-makers must introduce regulations for safe and effective usage and the registration process should be strict.” Kumar highlighted that e-rickshaws bring major business to the metro.

Traffic officials, meanwhile, said they regularly prosecute drivers and even impound them.

Ajay Chaudhary, Special Commissioner of Police, Traffic, said: “A total of 2,278 e-rickshaws have been impounded this year. In 2024, 3.52 lakhs challans were issued to e-rickshaw drivers for various offences. This year, till September 15, 4.32 lakh challans were issued.”

The most common violation by e-rickshaw drivers is improper and obstructive parking besides violation of time and route restriction, Chaudhary added.

According to Prince Singhal, road safety expert and founder of Community Against Drunken Driving, most e-rickshaws are driven by unauthorised drivers who lack training and road sense. “The first step to check this menace should be limiting the number of e-rickshaws operating in an area. Also, they should only be parked and stopped at designated places,” Singhal said.

Jumping red lights, carrying extra passengers on the driver seat, driving without a licence are other violations, which are also common.

Dr S Velmurugan, Chief Scientist and Head of Traffic Engineering and Safety Division, Central Road Research Institute, said, “The state government was to cap the number of e-rickshaws in the city to 1.2 lakh in 2012, but clearly, the number has exceeded. E-rickshaws violate the speed limit, always overload, and the drivers are mostly not trained. They illegally charge their vehicle and sometimes drive without switching on the lights, to save battery. They can easily clog arterial roads.”

Velmurugan said the only two cities where he has seen vehicles plying as per set capacity are Mumbai and Chandigarh. “Neither taxis ply beyond capacity, nor autos.”

A 16-year-old girl was killed on Tuesday morning on her way to school after an e-rickshaw driver jumped a red light, hit a scooter and overturned at Delhi’s Paharganj chowk.

CCTV footage of the incident went viral a day later that showed the e-rickshaw driver driving rashly before the vehicle overturns. Passersby caught him and handed him over to the police.

Data shared by Delhi Traffic Police showed that this year, till September 15, 24 people were killed and 100 were injured in 108 road accidents that involved e-rickshaws. The number of deaths stood at 20 for the entire 2024. Experts and activists say the ease of last-mile connectivity has pushed e-rickshaws’ demand.

Atul Ranjeet Kumar, social, RTI & road safety activist, said, “E-rickshaws are increasing in Delhi causing safety threats. If controlled, these could be a great medium of last-mile connectivity. Policy-makers must introduce norms for safe, effective usage and the registration process must be strict.” He also highlighted that e-rickshaws bring major business to the metro.