Road Safety Crisis in India: A Call for Urgent Action

Context:

• This article is based on an Editorial “Steering road safety in India back onto the right lane” which was published in the Hindu. The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is commemorated on the third Sunday of November every year.  Road safety is a global problem, with 1.3 million people killed in road crashes every year. But almost one in every four road deaths around the world takes place in India.

What is the current scenario of road safety in India?

• The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO): Each year, a staggering 3,00,000 people are estimated to be killed on the road (more than 34 people every hour of every day). 
• Human Suffering: The number of people suffering life-altering injuries in road crashes is exponentially higher. 
  • Vulnerable road users, who include pedestrians, cyclists, and the riders of two-wheelers, account for almost three-quarters of road deaths.
• Economic Suffering: Road crashes are estimated to cost between 5% and 7% of national GDP.
• Government Report: As per the report, 2022 was the most fatal year for traffic crashes in India.

World Day of Remembrance

• Provides: A platform for road traffic victims and their families to remember, support, and act, such figures should serve as a wake-up call. 
• Need: Immediate, coordinated, and evidence-based interventions to boost road safety and drastically reduce the alarming statistics.
  • Strategic investments, concerted political will at the national, State, and local levels, and a change of collective mindset. 

Steps taken in this Direction:

• The Sustainable Development Goals: Target (3.6) to halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road crashes and a call (11.2) to make public transport safer, more affordable, and more accessible to all.
• Adoption of Modern Technologies: Police are using it such as intelligent traffic management systems to effectively regulate traffic flows and minimize the potential for collisions. 
• Enhanced Data Collection: These are impactful measures that will help experts to better understand where and why crashes are occurring, and, therefore, how to reduce them.

Also Read: Accidents in India-2022′ Report Released By MoRTH

Focus Areas for Better Safety:

• Enforcing the Use of Seatbelts: Wearing a seatbelt reduces the risk of death among drivers and front-seat occupants by 45% to 50%, and the risk of death and serious injuries among rear-seat occupants by 25%. 
• Enforcing the Use of Helmets: Correct helmet use can lead to a 42% reduction in the risk of fatal injuries. To help increase access to safe helmets, the Special Envoy has worked with helmet producers to produce a low-cost ventilated United Nations standard helmet, for under $20.
• Speeding must be Reduced: A recent report by the Government revealed that speeding led to 70% of India’s road crash deaths. 
• Enhancement of Road infrastructure: Many roads are not in a safe condition, although government programmes in recent years have led to rapid improvements.
• Awareness Campaigns for Behavioral Change: A large-scale public awareness campaigns such as the new UN global campaign for road safety #MakeASafetyStatement, involving international celebrities, must be undertaken to secure behavioral changes.
• No tolerance for Drink-driving: Drunk driving is likely to cause death. Negligence coupled with intoxication entails liability under Section 304 (II) IPC.

The Path Ahead:

• Need for a whole-of-society effort to improve road safety. 
• Need for access to high-quality emergency care services and proper after-care in the States.
• Need to look increasingly at international best practices and successes and then adapt them to India’s specific needs and circumstances.
• The need is a comprehensive safe-system approach as envisaged in the UN’s Second Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, and full implementation of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019. 

Conclusion:

Addressing the alarming road safety crisis in India requires a holistic approach, encompassing rigorous enforcement of regulations, technological interventions, infrastructure enhancement, and widespread behavioral change, aligned with international best practices and the UN’s Second Decade of Action for Road Safety.

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