Speed Limit, GPS Monitoring Reduce Bus Accidents in AP
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh government’s efforts to improve road safety, such as limiting the speed of long-distance coaches to 80 kmph and introducing GPS-based tracking, have reduced accidents significantly since April.
Crashes involving long-distance buses previously averaged 10 to 15 cases a day, transportation officials said Thursday. These are now down to zero or one per day.
Following a series of major bus accidents, the transport department made Speed Limiting Devices (SLDs) mandatory, limiting the maximum speed of buses to 80 kmph. The SLDs are connected to a GPS-based tracking system connected to a central control room that monitors the buses around the clock.
Any attempt to exceed the prescribed speed or interfere with the SLD triggers an alert, allowing the control room to identify the vehicle by its registration number and location.
Details are verified through the VAHAN database and local transport authorities are then alerted to inspect and, if necessary, seize the vehicle for violations.
The seized vehicle is released only after the necessary legal procedures are completed.
The state has around 1,500 to 1,800 long-distance coaches, including vehicles from neighboring states passing through Andhra Pradesh. Of these, around 1,300 buses registered in the state have been fitted with SLDs and GPS tracking systems.
Bus operators initially opposed the measures but later acknowledged the operational benefits, officials said. Maintaining regulated speeds reduced fuel consumption, resulting in significant savings.
Operators will reduce fuel expenditure by around 5,000 to 7,000 litres, estimating savings of 50 to 70 liters of diesel per trip on the Vijayawada-Bengaluru route.
The ministry is also examining steps to improve security in the transportation of goods. Officials said they are working on a mechanism to address truck drivers’ long driving hours, which often lead to fatigue-related crashes. Plans are underway to install Vehicle Positioning and Tracking Devices (VLTDs) on commercial goods vehicles to enable continuous monitoring from the control room.
Sivarama Prasad, joint commissioner of transport (enforcement), said the speed regulation and monitoring system helps reduce accidents in long-distance buses while ensuring safer travel for passengers and reducing operating costs.
Road safety data shows that AP recorded 15,279 traffic accidents resulting in 6,796 deaths in 2024, while 6,433 people died in 15,462 accidents in 2025.
Officials said roadworthiness of vehicles, driver fitness and road engineering play an important role in preventing accidents.
Passengers called on authorities to prevent unauthorized parking on roadsides, which remains a major cause of accidents.
They want the personnel of mobile police vehicles to ensure that no unauthorized vehicles are parked on the roadside, a major cause of road accidents.
Transport authorities state that, in addition to the roadworthiness of the vehicle and the condition of the driver, faulty road engineering also plays an important role in the occurrence of accidents.
Year – Accidents (All Vehicles) – deaths
2024 15,279 6,796
2025 15,462 6,433
