Road Safety in India Challenges & Government Policies

Table of Contents

Introduction

The ‘India Status Report on Road Safety 2024,’ prepared by the TRIP Centre at IIT Delhi, underscores the insufficient attention given to road safety in India.
It highlights the country’s slow progress in achieving international targets for reducing road accident fatalities.
The report also stresses the inherent link between road construction, mobility, and the need for a tailored approach to effectively address and reduce road accidents.
Road safety in India remains a pressing concern, with a high rate of road traffic deaths and injuries.
Despite advances in other sectors, fatalities from road accidents persist, and many states are unlikely to meet the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety’s 2030 goal of halving traffic deaths.

Read also: Explore Public Health Sector Challenges & Advancements | UPSC

- Road traffic injuries were the 13th leading cause of death and the 12th leading cause of health loss (measured in Disability-Adjusted Life Years, or DALYs) in India in 2021. States such as Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh are severely affected.

- Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorized two-wheeler riders are most at risk. Trucks are responsible for the highest proportion of accidents involving other vehicles.

- From 1990 to 2021, the probability of an Indian dying in a road accident increased from 40% higher than in Scandinavian countries to 600%. Over-speeding remains the leading cause of fatalities, contributing to 71.2% of deaths in 2022.

- Economic Impact: According to the World Bank, India loses 3-5% of its GDP annually due to road accidents.
- Social Impact: Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs), especially urban poor men, bear the brunt of road accidents, which often plunge them into poverty due to the loss of employment.
- Gender-Specific Impact: As per a World Bank report, 50% of Indian women experience significant financial hardship after a family member suffers a road accident.

- Key features include the establishment of a road safety information database, periodic reviews of road and vehicle safety standards, and the creation of a National Road Safety Council.

- Established under the Motor Vehicle Act of 1988, DRSCs are tasked with developing district-level road safety plans and emergency medical plans.

- Establishes a National Road Safety Board.
- Increases penalties for traffic violations.
- Introduces a Solatium Fund for hit-and-run victims.
- Mandates vehicle recalls for safety issues and strengthens driver testing.

- Front and side crash tests for new cars.
- Mandatory airbags in vehicles.
- Roadside crash barriers and rectification of black spots.

Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety (2015): India is a signatory, committing to halving traffic deaths by 2030 under the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 3.6.
Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030: The UN General Assembly’s goal to prevent at least 50% of road traffic deaths by 2030.

Read also: Food Processing: Overview and Growing Demand in India | UPSC

Adopt Global Safety Standards: India should align its vehicle safety features with the European Union’s General Safety Regulation, including advanced braking and speed assistance systems.
Implement KS Radhakrishnan Panel Recommendations: This includes compulsory state audits on road safety, public awareness campaigns, and timely compensation for accident victims.
Lane Separation for Different Vehicles: Designating separate lanes for two-wheelers and heavy vehicles would reduce collisions.
Strict Enforcement of Rules: Stronger enforcement of existing traffic laws, along with higher fines, will curb road accidents.
National Database for Fatal Crashes: A comprehensive crash database is essential for improving road safety policies.