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Introduction

India accounts for about 400 road deaths every day, making it one of the world’s deadliest countries for road users. According to government data, pedestrians, two-wheeler riders, and bus passengers form the majority of fatalities. Despite policies under the Motor Vehicles Act and road safety campaigns, poor infrastructure, lax enforcement, and weak institutional mechanisms continue to make Indian roads unsafe.

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Main Causes Behind High Fatalities

• Poor Road Infrastructure and Design: Many highways lack dividers, lighting, signage, and crash barriers, increasing collision risks.
  Eg: The Chevella accident (Nov 2025) on NH-163 occurred on a stretch without dividers or streetlights, causing a fatal collision.
• Inadequate Driver Training and Licensing System: Driving tests assess only vehicle handling, not knowledge of safe driving or traffic behavior.
  Eg: The current RTO system neglects safety education; reforms like License Seva Kendras have been suggested to ensure transparency and skill-based certification.
• Weak Enforcement of Road Standards: States often ignore Indian Roads Congress (IRC) norms and fail to implement safety mandates under the Motor Vehicles Act.
• Neglect of Vehicle and Technology Standards: Many vehicles operate without collision-warning systems or energy absorbers, especially commercial ones.
• Lack of Trauma Care and Emergency Response: Delays in post-accident medical response increase fatality rates, particularly in rural areas.

Effective Measures to Reduce Deaths and Improve Safety

• Comprehensive Road Design and Maintenance: Implement scientific road audits and ensure compliance with IRC standards for dividers, signage, and lighting.
  Eg: Correcting road curves, installing barriers, and filling potholes on highways like NH-163 can drastically reduce collisions.
• Reform Licensing and Driver Training: Introduce standardized safety training modules and digitized testing centers for transparency and skill-based evaluation.
  Eg: Establish License Seva Kendras similar to Passport Seva Kendras to ensure quality control and eliminate corruption in RTOs.
• Adopt Vehicle Safety Technologies: Mandate collision-warning systems, sensors, and energy-absorbing bumpers on commercial and passenger vehicles.
  Eg: Encouraging adoption of low-cost collision detection devices could prevent rear-end crashes, which form a major share of accidents.
• Strengthen Pedestrian and Non-Motorized Infrastructure: Build dedicated walkways, crossings, and lighting systems to protect vulnerable users.
  Eg: Improved pedestrian infrastructure alone can save thousands of lives annually, especially in urban areas.
• Develop Robust Trauma and Emergency Networks: Establish 24×7 trauma care centers and link them to highways through a National Accident Response Grid.

Conclusion

India’s road safety crisis stems from systemic neglect rather than lack of awareness. A holistic strategy combining infrastructure upgrades, technological enforcement, institutional reforms, and emergency preparedness is crucial. Turning road safety from a reactive to a preventive public policy priority is the only way to move toward the vision of “zero fatality corridors” and safer mobility for all.

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