- Prelims: Current events of national importance, National Automobile Scrappage Policy, Particulate matter(PM), Foundation’s Zero-Fatality Corridor (ZFC) programme etc
- Mains GS Paper III: Infrastructure:Energy, ports, roads, airports and railways etc
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
- Each year, about 3,00,000 people are estimated to be killed on the road in India, according to the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO).
- That is equivalent to more than 34 people every hour of every day.
- The planet commemorated the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on November 19 to provide a platform for road traffic victims and their families.
INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE
Context
Road transport:
- It is the dominant mode of transport in India, in terms of traffic share and in terms of contribution to the national economy.
- A negative externality of expansion in road network, motorization and urbanization in the country is the increase in road accidents and road crash fatalities.
- India is estimated to have about 5(twenty two point five)million end-of-life vehicles by 2025.
Major reasons for road accidents:
- Infrastructural deficits
- Negligence and risks: Over speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol etc)
- Distraction: Talking over mobile phones
- Overloading: To save on the cost of transportation.
- Lack of awareness: Regarding the importance of safety features like airbags, Anti lock Braking system etc.
- Missing or inadequate signages are the leading cause of road crashes.
What steps need to be taken?
- We need immediate, coordinated and evidence-based interventions to boost road safety.
- Drastically reduce the daily human tragedies behind the alarming statistics.
- Strategic investments in road safety measures, concerted political will at the national, State and local levels, and a change of collective mindset
- Priority areas must include enforcing the use of seatbelts not just for drivers but also for their passengers.
- Wearing a seatbelt: It 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%.
- Helmet use must be enforced among motorcyclists as well as their pillion passengers.
- Correct helmet use can lead to a 42% reduction in the risk of fatal injuries.
- Speeding must be reduced and there can be no tolerance for drink-driving
- Report by the Government: speeding led to 70% of India’s road crash deaths.
- Road infrastructure should be enhanced: Too many roads are not in a safe condition, although government programmes in recent years have led to rapid improvements
- Large-scale public awareness campaigns:
- such as the new UN global campaign for road safety #MakeASafetyStatement
- It involves international celebrities.
- The Sustainable Development Goals, created in 2015: It include a target (6) to halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road crashes
- The national government’s implementation of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019
- Government enhanced data collection from road crashes.
- It will help experts better understand where and why crashes are occurring, and, therefore, how to reduce them.
Way Forward
- India has some of the greatest opportunities to build a strong road safety management framework, with strong helmet producers, car manufacturers, big tech and large road investments.
- Police in the major cities, such as the capital, New Delhi, are adopting modern technologies
- such as intelligent traffic management systems to effectively regulate traffic flows in a much better way and minimize the potential for collision.
- 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, including here in India.
- We need to look increasingly at international best practices and successes and then adapt them to India’s specific needs and circumstances.
- Road safety is a complex and multi-dimensional challenge, but the benefits that come with addressing it can be equally profound.
- There is a need for a comprehensive safe-system approach as envisaged in the UN’s the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, and full implementation of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019.
QUESTION FOR PRACTICE
Investment in infrastructure is essential for more rapid and inclusive economic growth.” discuss in the light of India’s experience.(UPSC 2021) (200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)
