India needs urgent road safety reforms amid rising urbanisation

Source: The post India needs urgent road safety reforms amid rising urbanisation has been created, based on the article “The road to safety” published in “The Hindu” on 15 May 2025. India needs urgent road safety reforms amid rising urbanisation.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3- Infrastructures

Context: India faces a severe road safety crisis amid rising urbanisation and vehicle use. In 2022, 1.68 lakh people died in road accidents — about 12.2 deaths per 1 lakh people. In comparison, Japan and the UK recorded just 2.57 and 2.61. Road crashes cost India 3% of GDP annually.

For detailed information on Road Safety in India- Reasons and Impact read this article here

Constitutional and Moral Foundation of Road Safety

1. Right to Life as a Legal Principle: Road safety is part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. Every citizen — pedestrian, cyclist, or driver — deserves safe public spaces.
2. State and Societal Responsibility: Recognising this right creates a legal and moral duty for the state and society to treat road safety as a public good and basic human right.

Urbanisation and Demand for Safer Streets

1. Rising Urban and Vehicle Growth: By 2047, nearly 50% of India’s population will live in cities. This will raise vehicle ownership and pressure road infrastructure.
2. Vulnerable Users at Higher Risk: Pedestrians, cyclists, senior citizens, and public transport users must be protected through people-first planning.
3. Reimagining Urban Streets: Wider footpaths, cycling tracks, marked crossings, refuge islands, and reduced speed zones are essential for safer mobility.

Adopting the Safe System Approach

1. Designing for Human Error: The Safe System Approach recognises human mistakes but ensures those mistakes don’t result in death or injury.
2. Focus on Forgiving Roads: It shifts the focus from blaming individuals to building resilient, error-tolerant infrastructure.

Government Measures and Infrastructure Steps

1. MoRTH’s Key Interventions: The ministry has identified and started fixing 5,000+ black spots, enforced audits, and mandated airbags and ABS in vehicles.
2. Training and Testing Centres: Driving schools and vehicle fitness centres are being established in every district to prevent unskilled driving accidents.

Funding Strategy and Industry’s Role

1. CSR for Road Safety: Auto-makers could be required to contribute CSR funds to road safety for 20–25 years. These funds could support black spot removal, awareness, training, and trauma care.
2. Shared Responsibility in Mobility: As key stakeholders, manufacturers must actively support India’s Vision Zero mission.

Strategic Framework and Economic Rationale

1. Four Es of Road Safety: Engineering, enforcement, education, and emergency care are the four key pillars. Infrastructure and education need urgent focus.
2. High Returns on Investment: The World Bank estimates India needs $109 billion in 10 years to halve road deaths. Each rupee invested can return up to four.
3. Vision for Viksit Bharat 2047: Safe, inclusive roads are essential for sustainable, equitable development. Road safety must be a national priority.

Question for practice:

Discuss the measures India can adopt to improve road safety in the context of rapid urbanisation and rising vehicle ownership.