{"id":139669,"date":"2021-10-07T20:52:08","date_gmt":"2021-10-07T15:22:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/?p=139669"},"modified":"2021-10-16T12:50:37","modified_gmt":"2021-10-16T07:20:37","slug":"road-accidents-can-be-reduced","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/road-accidents-can-be-reduced\/","title":{"rendered":"Road accidents can be reduced"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Synopsis:\u00a0<\/span><\/b>India road accident status highlights the importance of road safety in India.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Introduction<\/h5>\n

Recently, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways decided to award Good Samaritans who save the lives of road accident victims with the cash prize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read more<\/strong>: Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Launches Rewarding Scheme for Grant of Award to the Good Samaritan who has saved life of a victim of a fatal accident involving a motor vehicle<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
What is the present status of road accidents in India?<\/h5>\n

At present India ranked third<\/strong> among 20 nations that have the highest number of accidents. India cases to fatalities ratio, <\/strong>with 415 deaths each day, is much worse compared to the U.S. and Japan, which have more recorded crashes but fewer deaths.<\/p>\n

The Madras High Court<\/strong> recently struck down the 2018 notification of the Union Government<\/strong> wherein the speed limit was hiked<\/strong> to 120 and 100 km\/hour on expressways and highways, respectively. This was done as 66.7% of accidents was attributed to overspeeding in 2017, 55.73% in 2018 and 64.4% in 2019.<\/p>\n

In 2019<\/strong>, according to a study conducted by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways<\/strong>, More than 1.5 lakh persons were killed and more than 4.5 lakh were injured in road accidents across the country.<\/p>\n

National Highways (NHs) and State Highways, which account for about 5% of the total road length, claimed 61% of the deaths related to accidents.<\/p>\n

During 2020<\/strong>, even with severely disrupted mobility due to COVID-19, National Crime Records Bureau data show 1,33,715 lives were lost in 1,20,716 cases attributed to negligence relating to road accidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read more<\/strong>: \u201cTraffic Crash Injuries and Disabilities\u201d -World Bank report on road accidents in India<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
How government is ensuring adequate safety on the roads?<\/h5>\n

Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019<\/strong>: The Act has a motive of bringing down the death rate due to road accidents by 50% by 2020. The Act has a dedicated chapter to sensitise police forces and hospitals regarding Good Samaritan.<\/p>\n

Note<\/strong>: Recently, the government shifted the deadline under the Act to 2025.<\/p>\n

National Road Safety Board<\/strong>: The board mandate include the formulation of standards on, among other things, safety and trauma management, building capacity among traffic police, and put the crash investigation on a scientific footing.<\/p>\n

United Nations Brasilia Declaration<\/strong>: The declaration was adopted at the second global high-level conference on road safety held in Brazil in 2015. It lays down recommendations on strengthening existing legislations, adopting sustainable transport, strengthening the post-crash response, etc. India<\/strong> is a signatory<\/strong> to the Brasilia Declaration.<\/p>\n

Various initiatives of states<\/h6>\n

Tamil Nadu<\/strong> recorded the highest number of accidents in 2017. Tamil Nadu government introduced a model to identify and removing Black spots in the road. At present, they have reduced road accidents by 38% and deaths by 54%.<\/p>\n

The Accident Research Cell of the Delhi Traffic Police<\/strong> carried out an analysis of accidents and created a database that facilitates the formulation of policies to prevent accidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read more<\/strong>: The issue of Road Safety in India \u2013 Explained pointwise<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
What are the steps India needs to do to reduce accidents?<\/h5>\n

Achieving a reduction in mortality on Indian roads need determined action on several factors. Such as<\/p>\n

i) Scientific road design<\/strong> and standards, and identification of black spots that are prone to accidents,<\/p>\n

ii) Deploying an adequate number of police personnel, particularly during peak hours,<\/p>\n

iii) Zero-tolerance enforcement of the Motor Vehicles Act,<\/p>\n

iv) Highway patrols<\/strong> with police personnel trained in first aid and ambulances every 10 km could also help save precious lives,<\/p>\n

v) Educating citizens<\/strong> about the impact of accidents on the kin of the victims through public discourse will help in reducing accidents.
\nNational Crime Records Bureau<\/p>\n

Source<\/strong>: This post is based on the following articles<\/p>\n