Killer on the road: Road fatalities are going up because users don’t take basic precautions and road design is poor

Source: The post is based on an article “Killer on the road: Road fatalities are going up because users don’t take basic precautions and road design is poor” published in The Times of India on 31^st August 2022.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Infrastructure

Context: This article discusses about the issues associated with road accidents and ways to reduce it.

What is the current situation of road accidents?

2021 marked the highest ever road accidents and numbers are expected to increase in the coming years.

Two-wheelers accounted for 44.5% of deaths, up from 35% in 2018, and pedestrian deaths have doubled to 12% of deaths since 2018.

What does the data say?

NCRB report blames over-speeding for 60% deaths and dangerous/careless driving for 26% deaths.

Union Ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) data shows that 70% of two-wheeler travellers killed in 2020 weren’t wearing helmets. 84% of car travellers who died weren’t wearing seatbelts.

What has led to such accidents?

The predictable and uniform design of medians, intersections, lanes, shoulders, and pedestrian paths are absent in most urban centers.

Most highways still lack enough safe crossing facilities for motorists and pedestrians while illegal openings in medians are big concerns.

Techniques like rumble strips aren’t employed adequately.

How road accidents can be minimized?

The Motor Vehicles Act amended in 2019 has made seat belts and helmets compulsory but there is lack of enforcement.

A study from IIT Delhi has suggested that more focus should be made on street and highway design and enforcement rather than the current overwhelming focus on motor vehicle safety.