Topic: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads.
Q6. Why does India continue to record high road accident fatalities despite improvements in transport infrastructure? Enumerate measures needed for effective road safety governance. (10 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: IE
Why the question
The persistence of high road accident fatalities in India despite expansion of transport infrastructure and increasing investments in highways and mobility systems.
Key Demand of the question
The question requires analysing the major structural, infrastructural and governance-related causes behind rising road accident fatalities in India. It also demands enumeration of measures required for effective and integrated road safety governance.
Structure of the Answer:
Introduction
Briefly mention India’s high share in global road accident fatalities and the need to view road safety as a governance and infrastructure challenge.
Body
- Reasons for high road accident fatalities: Mention issues related to unsafe road engineering, weak enforcement, behavioural non-compliance, rapid motorisation and poor trauma care systems.
- Measures for effective road safety governance: Suggest solutions such as safer infrastructure design, technology-driven enforcement, integrated data systems, improved emergency response and behavioural awareness measures.
Conclusion
Conclude with the need for a data-driven, technology-enabled and multi-stakeholder road safety framework for sustainable and safer mobility in India.
