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Context

India's high road accident fatality rate presents a major public health crisis, leading to thousands of deaths and injuries annually, and impacting the economy and human well-being. 

Road Accidents in India

According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) report, in 2023, India had 4.80 lakh accidents and 1.73 lakh fatalities.

A 2021 World Bank report revealed that India accounts for roughly 10% of global road crash fatalities, despite having only 1% of the world's vehicles.

A 2023 MoRTH report indicates that 67% of road fatalities are individuals aged 18-45. 

The World Bank estimates that road crashes cost the Indian economy 3% to 5% of its GDP annually.

Vulnerable Road Users (pedestrians, cyclists, two-wheeler riders) suffer over half of India's road crash deaths and serious injuries, with two-wheelers contributing 44% of fatalities. National Highways cause nearly 55% of deaths despite being under 5% of the road network. (Source: MoRTH)

Major Challenges Fueling the Crisis

Human Error: Driver fault remains the primary cause, accounting for around 78% of all road accidents in 2022.

• Over-speeding: Leading cause of fatalities, responsible for nearly 70% of deaths.
• Non-usage of Safety Gear: A MoRTH report indicated that in 2023, 54,568 two-wheeler riders died due to not wearing helmets, comprising 31.6% of all road accident deaths. 
• Violation of Traffic Rules: Ignoring signals, lane indiscipline, and driving on the wrong side are common violations.

Suboptimal Road Infrastructure: Rapid motorisation without corresponding infrastructure upgrades leads to higher accident probability.

• Poor Design and Maintenance: Unsafe roads with potholes, insufficient signage, broken dividers, and accident-prone "black spots" are major hazards.
• Lack of Facilities for Vulnerable Users: Many roads lack formal sidewalks, safe pedestrian crossings, and dedicated lanes for cyclists.

Enforcement Deficiencies: Gaps in enforcing traffic laws dilute the deterrent effect of penalties.

• Inconsistent Implementation: Stricter penalties under the 2019 Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act faced initial delays or revisions in some states due to public backlash over high fines.
• Insufficient Personnel and Technology: Lack of sufficient manpower and modern tech hinders continuous monitoring and enforcement

Post-Crash Response: The "golden hour," the period after an accident for saving lives, gets missed due to slow ambulance dispatch and traffic congestion.

Government Initiatives 

The Indian government has adopted a multi-pronged strategy based on the "4Es" of road safety: Education, Engineering (both of roads and vehicles), Enforcement, and Emergency Care.

Legal Framework: The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, reformed the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

• Stricter Penalties: Fines for traffic offenses like speeding, drunk driving, not wearing a helmet/seatbelt, and mobile phone use while driving significantly increased.
• Protection for Good Samaritans: The Act legally protects individuals who assist accident victims from civil or criminal liability.
• Vehicle Recall and Safety Standards: The Central Government can now order the recall of defective vehicles and mandates automated testing for vehicle fitness.
• Enhanced Compensation: The Act increased compensation for grievous hurt in hit-and-run cases to ₹50,000 and for death to ₹2,00,000.

Policy & Institutional Framework:

• National Road Safety Policy 2010: Focuses on road safety, covering awareness, infrastructure, vehicles, driving, enforcement, and emergency services.
• National Road Safety Board: The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, establishes a National Road Safety Board to advise central and state governments on road safety
• National Highway Accident Relief Service Scheme (NHARSS): Strengthens pre-hospital care infrastructure.
• Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS): Include real-time traffic monitoring, speed detection, and red-light violation cameras.

Way Forward

Strengthening Enforcement through Technology

• AI and ANPR: Integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras for real-time traffic monitoring, detection of violations, and predictive analytics for accident-prone areas.
• Consistent Penalty Application: Ensure uniform and strict implementation of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, across all states, removing local discrepancies.
• Point-based Demerit System: Introduce a transparent point-based system for driving licenses, leading to suspension or cancellation for repeat offenders.

Holistic Infrastructure Design and Maintenance:

• Safe System Approach: Adopt a "Safe System Approach" that acknowledges human fallibility and designs roads to minimize the severity of crashes.
• Vulnerable User Priority: Mandate and implement dedicated infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists, including footpaths, safe crossings, and segregated lanes.
• Intelligent Road Design: Intelligent transport systems, adequate lighting, clear signage, rumble strips, and crash barriers, especially on national and state highways.
• Ongoing Black Spot Rectification: Identify and rectify black spots, utilizing advanced data analytics and on-ground audits.

Enhanced Emergency Response and Trauma Care

• Golden Hour Management: Standardize and strengthen pre-hospital trauma care across the country, ensuring rapid ambulance response (within the golden hour) and well-equipped emergency centers.
• Capacity Building: Train first responders, police, and healthcare professionals in trauma management and accident site protocols. 

Conclusion

India can reduce road fatalities and achieve global safety targets by implementing a comprehensive, data-driven strategy that addresses human behavior, road engineering, vehicle safety, enforcement, emergency care, technology adoption, public awareness, political will, and inter-agency cooperation.

Source: DOWNTOEARTH