Bhubaneswar: The state transport department has directed all road agencies to provide detailed road layer data for integration into the electronic detailed accident report (e-DAR) database. The move will enable more accurate analysis of accident trends and patterns on specific road stretches across the state.The office of the state transport commissioner recently wrote to the officials of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the works department, which looks after roads across the state, to submit road layer information, along with key attributes.The transport department underscored the importance of detailed and disaggregated road accident data in identifying risk factors, vulnerable locations and emerging crash patterns. “Such data is crucial for preparing evidence-based road safety action plans and assessing the effectiveness of interventions implemented on different road stretches,” a senior transport official said.Under the directive, agencies have been asked to furnish information on road code, road type, road category, segment ID, road width, shoulder width and ownership details.Officials said integrating road category-wise layers into e-DAR will help correlate accidents with specific road characteristics and ownership patterns, enabling authorities to pinpoint hazardous stretches and design targeted safety measures.The initiative comes against the backdrop of Odisha’s grim road safety record. Police data shows 18,364 people died in road accidents across the state between 2023 and 2025, largely due to speeding, rash driving, poor road engineering and lack of awareness. A recent ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) report pegged Odisha’s accident severity — deaths per 100 accidents — at 49.6 in 2024, far above the national average of 36.3.Between Jan and April this year alone, 2,530 people died in road accidents, marking a 9.4% rise over the same period in 2025. Only eight districts — Bhadrak, Boudh, Deogarh, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Puri and Sundargarh — recorded simultaneous declines in both accidents and fatalities.Officials said enforcement lapses, poor road conditions and rising vehicle registrations are being examined as contributing factors. “Road safety remains a priority, but safe driving is ultimately the responsibility of motorists. Excess speed, drunk driving and negligence are behind many fatalities. Govt measures can only succeed if drivers adhere to traffic norms,” the transport officer added.Wary of a seasonal surge in road accidents, the transport department decided to roll out a ‘zero fatality week’ campaign every month from Sept to March — a period officials describe as the most accident‑prone in Odisha. The transport officials noted that winter fog, picnic travel, and increased vehicular movement during festivals contribute to higher crash risks during Sept-March.