Context: According to WHO’s Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023, global road fatalities decreased in 2021; however, India experienced a rise in road fatalities.
Key findings of the report:
- Road traffic deaths fell by 5% to 1.19 million fatalities annually worldwide between 2010 and 2021.
- Ten countries succeeded in reducing road traffic deaths by over 50%: Belarus, Denmark, Japan, Lithuania, Norway, the United Arab Emirates, Venezuela etc..
- Two-thirds of deaths occur among people of a working age.
- Road fatality rate declining from 18 per 1 lakh people in 2010 to 15 per 1 lakh in 2021, which represents a 16% decline in the road traffic death rate since 2010.
- 28% of global road traffic deaths occurred in the WHO’s South-East Asia Region, 25% in the Western Pacific Region, 19% in the African Region, 12% in the Region of the Americas, 11% in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, and 5% in the European Region.
- The risk of death is three times higher in low-income than high-income countries, yet low-income countries have just 1% of the world’s motor vehicles.
Key findings about India:
- India, however, registered a 15% increase in fatalities.
- Total number of road traffic fatalities went up from 1.34 lakh in 2010 to 1.54 lakh in 2021.
Impacts of road accidents in India:
- Road crashes cost the Indian economy 3 to 5 percent of GDP each year (World Bank).
- Road crashes claimed about 1.5 lakh lives and left more than 3.8 lakh people injured.
- Road accident injuries are the leading causes of deaths and disabilities.
Reasons for the increase in Road accidents:
- Traffic congestion: Rapid urbanization and population growth have led to increased traffic congestion in many cities and towns. Congested roads can result in higher chances of accidents, especially when coupled with inadequate road infrastructure.
- Poor road infrastructure: It contribute significantly to accidents, including potholes, inadequate road markings, damaged road, eroded road merging of rural roads with highways, diversions, illegal speed breakers.
- Vehicle condition: Such as faulty brakes, worn-out tires, and inadequate vehicle maintenance can lead to accidents.
- Weak vehicle safety standards: Indian crash tests are conducted at 56 kmph whereas the Global New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) conducts its tests at 64 kmph.
- Inadequate licensing and training: In 2018, in 26% of all road accidents, drivers who were in an accident did not have a valid license or were driving with a learner’s license (MORTH).
- Poor enforcement of traffic laws: India’s enforcement of laws on speeding and drink driving are rated 3 and 4 out of 10, respectively, compared to 8 and 9 in China and 9 (for both) in Sri Lanka by the Global Road Safety Report 2018.
- Paucity of traffic police: 30% of 85,144 traffic policemen positions and 39% of 58,509 sanctioned traffic constable positions were vacant in 2018, according to the Bureau of Police Research and Development.
- Weather conditions: Fog, snow, heavy rainfall, wind storms, hail storms.
- Inadequate Emergency Response like rapid trauma care on highways leads to high fatalities.
- Low awareness: Indians have very inadequate awareness regarding the importance of safety features like airbags, Anti-lock Braking system, safety belt usage etc.
Measures taken by government to reduce road accidents:
- Grant of Financial Assistance for Administering Road Safely Advocacy and Awards for the Outstanding Work Done in the Field of Road Safety: Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided to various eligible agencies such as NGO or an Academic Institutions.
- Bharat New Car Assessment Program: To evaluate the safety of vehicles in the event of a collision, empowering consumers to make informed decisions while purchasing cars.
- The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019: The Act mandates automated fitness testing for vehicles, creation of a Solatium Fund for victims of hit-and-run accidents, protection of Good Samaritans from civil and criminal liability and creation of National Road Safety Board to advise on traffic management.
- Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD) system: Initiative of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and is funded by World Bank, to improve road safety in the country.
- Road Safety Audits: All national highways including the ones under construction and the ones in pre-construction and even design stages.
- National Road Safety Policy (NRSP), 2010 on the recommendations of S Sundar Committee: The Government reviewed standards that govern road design and the maintenance of vehicles and creation of National Road Safety Council to supervise matters related to road safety.
- District Road Safety Committees: established in each district under the Motor Vehicle Act of 1988 FOR analysis of the district’s traffic collisions and gathering information on incidents, their causes, accident sites, and victim information.
- Vehicle scrapping policy: Older vehicles pollute the environment 10 to 12 times more than fit vehicles and pose a risk to road safety.
- India is a party to the various global agreements:
- Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road,
- Adoption of Uniform Conditions for Periodic Technical Inspection of Wheeled Vehicles and Reciprocal Recognition of Such Inspections
- Agreement concerning the Establishing of Global Technical Regulations for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts
Way forward:
- Recommendation given by KS Radhakrishnan panel on Road Safety:
- Ban on sale of alcohol on state and national highway.
- Every states should frame a road safety policy.
- Road safety audit be conducted by every states to ensure that safety standards.
- Creating awareness among people on road safety rules, insurance policies.
- Enough compensation to victims on time.
- Strengthen traffic law enforcement to ensure strict adherence to speed limits, seat belt usage, helmet laws, and other traffic regulations. Implement automated systems such as speed cameras and red-light cameras
- Recommendation given by Sundar committee:
- Establish Centres of Excellence in road safety research and education.
- One per cent of the cess accruing to the National highways should be employed to create a National Road Safety Fund.
- Establishing a centralised national body for road safety and establishing decentralised responsibility at the district level.
India could consider adopting Mexico's approach to road safety and sustainable mobility by recognizing safe mobility as a fundamental right for its citizens.