Challenges to Road Safety in India

What’s in today’s article?

• Background
• The Current State of Road Safety in India
• Importance of Crash Surveillance
• India’s Global Road Safety Standing
• Way Forward - Strategies to Improve Road Safety
• Conclusion

Background

• Road safety remains a critical public health issue in India, with a high number of fatalities and injuries resulting from road accidents every year.
• The "India Status Report on Road Safety 2024," prepared by the TRIP Centre at IIT Delhi, sheds light on the slow progress made in reducing road accident deaths and emphasizes the need for focused interventions.
• This article delves into the key findings of the report, the current state of road safety in India, and potential strategies for improvement.

The Current State of Road Safety in India

• Disparities in Road Accident Death Rates:
  • The report highlights significant disparities in road accident death rates across different states in India.
  • Some states, such as Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh, report high death rates of over 17 per 100,000 people.
  • On the other hand, states like West Bengal and Bihar have much lower rates, around 5.9 per 100,000 people.
  • Despite improvements in other sectors, road traffic injuries continue to be a major cause of death and health loss in India.
  • In 2021, road injuries were the 13th leading cause of death and the 12th leading cause of health loss, as measured by Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs).
  • Alarmingly, in six states, including Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, road injuries ranked among the top ten causes of health loss.
• Vulnerability of Motorcyclists and Pedestrians:
  • Motorcyclists, pedestrians, and cyclists are particularly vulnerable to road accidents in India.
  • The report reveals that two-wheeler riders, in particular, face high risks, with low helmet usage contributing significantly to fatalities.
  • Shockingly, in only seven states, more than half of two-wheeler riders wear helmets, despite the fact that helmets can drastically reduce the risk of death and serious injury.
  • Trucks are another major cause of accidents. They are often involved in fatal crashes, contributing to the high number of deaths on India’s roads.
• Lack of Road Safety Measures:
  • Most Indian states are struggling to implement basic traffic safety measures. Traffic calming mechanisms, road markings, and signage are often lacking, especially in rural areas.
  • Furthermore, only a few states have conducted audits of their highways to assess road safety, leaving many stretches of road without adequate safety infrastructure.
• Trauma Care and Response:
  • The inadequacy of trauma care facilities is another significant issue. In many parts of India, especially rural areas, access to timely medical care after a road accident is limited.
  • This lack of infrastructure contributes to higher fatality rates, as victims do not receive critical care quickly enough.

Importance of Crash Surveillance

• One of the major challenges in improving road safety is the lack of a robust national crash surveillance system.
• Currently, road safety data in India is compiled from First Information Reports (FIRs) filed at police stations, which are then aggregated at district, state, and national levels.
• However, this system only allows for basic analyses and often contains inaccurate information.
• The report calls for the establishment of a comprehensive national database for fatal crashes, which would allow for better analysis of road safety risks and more effective interventions.
• Such a system would provide policymakers with the tools needed to identify specific risk factors and evaluate the success of road safety programs.

India’s Global Road Safety Standing

• When compared to developed countries, India's road safety performance is alarming.
• In 1990, an Indian was 40% more likely to die in a road accident than someone in countries like Sweden. By 2021, this figure had risen to a staggering 600%.
• While Scandinavian countries have excelled in road safety governance, India’s progress has been slow, leading to a sharp rise in road fatalities.
• The report also questions whether simply equipping vehicles with advanced safety features is enough to solve India’s road safety problem.
• Since two-wheeler riders, pedestrians, and cyclists account for the majority of fatalities, focusing on vulnerable road users is critical.

Way Forward - Strategies to Improve Road Safety

• Scale-Up of Road Safety Interventions:
  • The report emphasizes the need for both central and state governments to prioritize road safety interventions.
  • This includes scaling up efforts to implement road safety measures such as traffic calming, proper signage, and helmet enforcement, especially in rural areas where these measures are often neglected.
• Establishment of a National Crash Database:
  • Creating a national database for road crashes, with public access, is essential for understanding the specific risks faced by different road users and the effectiveness of the interventions implemented by the states.
  • This would allow for more accurate data collection and enable policymakers to tailor interventions based on real-time information.
• Improving Trauma Care Infrastructure:
  • Strengthening trauma care facilities and ensuring quicker medical responses after accidents is crucial for saving lives.
  • Investments in healthcare infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, can make a significant difference in reducing fatalities from road accidents.

Conclusion

• India’s road safety challenge is multifaceted and requires urgent attention.
• The "India Status Report on Road Safety 2024" calls for a differentiated, state-specific approach to tackling these challenges.

By prioritizing road safety interventions, establishing a national crash database, and improving trauma care, India can make meaningful progress toward reducing road fatalities and ensuring safer roads for all.

Q1. What is Culpable Homicide in India?

Whoever causes death by doing an act with the intention of causing death, or with the intention of causing such bodily injury as is likely to cause death, or with the knowledge that he is likely by such act to cause death, commits the offence of culpable homicide.

Q2. What is ABS in Cars?

ABS stands for Anti-Lock Braking System, a safety feature that prevents your car's wheels from locking up when you brake hard or suddenly. ABS helps you steer in emergencies by restoring traction to your tires, which can help you avoid hazards and steer to safety.

Source: On the challenges to road safety in India | Explained