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| Need for better road safety measures | | | Sunita Vakil
Despite leading the world in road accident deaths India does not have a comprehensive policy on road safety
Everyday we read about the gruesome and shocking road accidents involving tragic loss of lives. Indeed, road fatalities have assumed an enormous proportion. The problem is now considered to be a serious global phenomenon considering that every hour 40 people under the age of 25 die in road accidents around the global. The enormity of the problem is revealed by the World Bank statistics which estimates the number of road accidents around the world to rise to about 20 lakh per year by 2020. The fact that there deaths could be prevented with better road safety measures only adds to the pain and suffering of the victim’s families.
Sadly, road accidents are a routine occurrence on Indian Roads. Our country which is marching towards development in various fields does also not lay behind in increasing the rates of road mishaps. Though the number of motor vehicles is increasing day by day which is sign of improving economy the bitter truth is that road fatalities have also increased as shown by statistics which are chilling for India. The death toll rose to at least 14 deaths per hour in 2008 against 13 the previous year. Road deaths in India registered a sharp 6.1% rise between 2006 and 2007. Real numbers could still be higher since many of these accidents are not even reported. According to the latest report of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) total annual deaths due to road accidents has crossed the 1.8 lakh mask. While rich nations have been able to reduce their death rates due to accidents considerably, these are sharply on the rise in the third world. Reports reveal that 98% of the deaths on the world’s roads occur in low middle income countries. Besides, the toll is not just on life but also a big drain on the public resources. It has been estimated that India loses 3% of its GDP to road crashes every year. Road accidents put a huge economic burden on the countries as the maximum number of fatalities occur in the age group of 15 to 45 years, economically the most productive segments of the population. The estimated annual cost of road accidents and injuries in India is Rs. 550 billion. The menace places a tremendous expense on healthcare services, costs of providing rehabilitation, value of lost household services lost earning of victims and lost income of survivors in the respective families. These costs hugely impact the country’s financial resources. No wonder, the issue of road accidents has been termed a global epidemic.
Nothing can be more heart rendering than the tragic and unnecessary deaths caused everyday all over the country destroying entire families. And yet, we don’t have a comprehensive policy on road safety in place .Increase in fatal accidents only proves the lack of concern on the part of state governments as well as police departments towards the problem.
Though various factors contribute to the increasing number of road accidents survey establishes that most of the accidents take place because of the increase in speed. While nobody can agree the truth of the display “speed thrills but kills”, we in our youthful exuberance try to show off our macho side by driving aggressively.
Besides with an ever increasing number of vehicles plying on the same narrow and congested roads, accidents are bound to happen. Poorly maintained roads with potholes and cracks also qualify as major contributors to increasing road deaths rates. Both central and state governments while pushing for construction of more roads and highways are doing precious little to make them safe. Other than that mechanical failure of the vehicle, untrained drivers, easy availability of licenses and minimum use of helmets and seats belts in vehicles result in causalities on the road.
It needs no reiteration that on Indian roads might is right. Bus and truck drivers epitomize this fact. For instance, these heavy duty vehicles often skip red light and merge directly into traffic at yield point and traffic circles without observing traffic rules. Buses are usually driven fast and recklessly by arrogant and callous drivers who violate all the rules of the book. The concept of keeping minimum distance between vehicles is considered old fashioned now. Drivers often resort to multitasking while driving by talking on their cell phones, listening to their CD’s or radios, smoking and chatting with others. Eating and drinking in vehicles has become an attitude for new age drivers. It is therefore not surprising that more people die in road accidents in India than anywhere else in the world, including the more populous China. There is a dire need to take a pro-active and preventive approach to reduce loss of life and property.
Though drunken driving is one of the major factors for road accidents, there is no effective law or judicial procedure to deter the miscreants. Incidents of drunken driving have been on the rise as highlighted by the recent cases of Nooriya Haweliwala and Summit Mittal in Mumbai and Delhi respectively unfortunately, in majority of such cases, people from affluent families get bail on payment of monetary fines as the existing law is not a sufficient deterrent. Given that drunk driving is a bail able offence, offenders are often behind the wheel in no time without the fear of being convicted.
Often enough, the laws may provide for sufficient remedial measures but the key is in their implementation. Penalties like fines and other measures provided by the law are seldom restored to. the stiff penalties may be tough enough to make people follow traffic rules, but who is to ensure that they will be implemented with Utmost sincerity? Also, there is no guarantee that cops will enforce the rules honestly as they may just let off the offender in exchange of a few rupees. with drunken driving estimated to be responsible for about 15000 deaths annually in the country, it is high time to take a strong approach to discourage consumption of alcohol while driving.
There are other supporting measures that can be taken to implement better road safety both at the government as well as individual level. In order to mitigate the problem of death on the roads, the govt. has to provides clutter free, broad, smooth and well lit roads and streets with proper signage. Traffic authorities should take strict action against those violating traffic rules and regulations. Driving licenses should be only issued to the deserving without any fear or favour Authorities must also ensure that influence and wealth are not taken into consideration when someone is found guilty of rash driving, whether drunk or robber.
On an individual level, people need to display a sense of responsibility towards themselves as well as others. We should not resort to rash or reckless driving just to flaunt our misplaced sense of superiority.
Proper planning of cities and other measures such as sidewalks, raised crossing, separate lanes for two wheels will go a long way in saving hundreds of thousands of lives.
Roads and pathways have to be made encroachment free. All activities termed dangerous while driving such as drinking using mobile phones or listing to music must be strictly discouraged. A concerted advertising and education campaign should be taken to educate the public about the importance of following traffic rules.
With road fatalities having increasing by 40% between 2003 and 2008 in India, we have no time to lose. The time for implementing better accident prevention strategies is now. But most importantly people need to believe that accidents are mostly caused by human error and therefore, largely avoidable.
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