A clarion call to action

Every day millions of Indians travel out and come back home using our roads. In 2015, about 146,000 Indians did not make it back home. Nearly 2.6 million came home with serious injuries. Every death due to a road accident is a tragedy, not just for that family but for the entire nation. A tragedy because that life need not have been lost, with just a little more care on the part of all concerned

Road safety is a crucial aspect of urban safety and security. The number of road deaths in India in 2013 was about 137,000, over 10% of the global figure of 1.25 million reported by WHO. It is a national issue which calls for urgent attention. The issue is more serious in our cities given the higher concentration of populations, both human and vehicular and the sheer magnitude of the numbers of vehicles involved. Road accidents are so serious an issue that Union Minister Nitin Gadkari is known to draw attention to it in most of his statements and public interactions. In fact the matter was considered so grim that his ministry in March this year constituted a Group of Ministers (GoM) under Yoonus Khan, Minister for PWD and Transport, Government of Rajasthan. This GoM is mandated to examine the best practices in the sector with a view to improve safety and mobility and to suggest actionable measures for implementation. This GoM has already met a few times and come up with valuable ideas.

Road safety is a multi-dimensional issue involving various stakeholders. Motor vehicle manufacturers are one. Regulations require them to adhere to a number of safety requirements in each of their vehicles. The regulations vary substantially across regions and countries, but are slowly converging based on global best practices. Lately there have been instances of manufacturers being pulled up by governments in many parts of the world for failing to meet agreed safety specifications. Other manufacturers routinely recall large numbers of vehicles to fix a faulty part or system which could have safety implications. The penalties imposed on defaulting companies and the costs of recall are mind-boggling, but they need to incur these costs in the interest of safety. Manufacturers are making renewed efforts every day to add more safety features in their vehicles and thus increase the appeal of their products for their buyers.

There is a host of regulatory agencies which has an impact on road safety. The testing agencies which certify the vehicle meets safety and environment standards for one. They are scientific establishments of global repute under the government of India. Then there is the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) which enacted the Central Motor Vehicle Act 1988 and notified the Rules thereunder in 1989. Rapid technological advances and growth in road traffic since then have prompted the Ministry to draw up a new set of rules-Draft Road Traffic Regulations. The ministry has also proposed a new Road Transport & Safety Bill (RTSB). Transport is a State subject and therefore calls for wide consultation across states. Thus the RTSB is still in Draft stage. Quality of roads, adequate and appropriate road furniture and lighting all contribute in great measure to safety on roads-city roads as well as highways. There have been numerous instances of fatal accidents, especially on highways, due to poor road or lighting conditions, inadequate signage and lack of crash barriers. The MoRTH is also working to ensure that there are adequate number of good quality trauma and medical aid facilities on highways. Many deaths occur due to lack of appropriate medical attention in case of accidents. There are a number of agencies which need to work on these aspects-the Central Ministry in the case of National Highways, State governments in case of state and district roads, rural local bodies on some stretches of highways, and urban local bodies for city roads. Among regulators are also the State transport departments and vehicle registering authorities. They are tasked with, among others, certifying the fitness of commercial vehicles at regular intervals. Squads of the department undertake spot checks on highways. Unfit vehicles are a leading cause for road mishaps. We have seen trucks with non-functional headlights on highways involved in accidents, often fatal. The traffic police department is another key regulator.Failure to book violators for offences, however small, deteriorates into an all pervading free-for-all on city streets and highways with rule breakers going scot-free.

India is a signatory to the Brasilia Declaration which commits to halve deaths due to road accidents by 2020 in line with the target at 3.6 of the Sustainable Development Goals. The goal is challenging looking at past performance, but not impossible considering the focus of policy makers

Finally there is the all-important stakeholder namely, the citizen. Responsible driving and road use is central to the theme of road safety. No amount of regulation and good road quality can ensure an accident-free environment without good behavior by the road user. We see rampant violation of road rules like signal jumping, non-use of helmets, use of mobile phones, three-astride riding on 2-wheelers and driving/riding on the wrong (right hand) side of the road all over. Local traffic police in many large cities regularly run road safety programmes involving corporates, school and college students, and retired personnel precisely for this purpose. The primary paradigm shift in the minds of road users has to be ‘respect for other road users’. Pedestrians and bicyclists deserve particular consideration. They are making valuable contribution to the national and global cause of environment protection. We need to treat them with far greater respect if we are to encourage more citizens to take up walking and bicycling, precisely what policy makers all over the world are striving for.

The GoM tasked with the crucial subject of road safety is addressing many of these issues. For example, ‘Good Samaritan’ laws to ensure that those who help victims of road accidents are not themselves harassed. The Supreme Court has already passed orders on this matter. Simplification of licensing and registration procedures, review of enforcement mechanisms, vehicle fitness, enhanced penalties, e-tolling and improved last mile options like 2-wheeler taxis to encourage use of public transport are among the other measures. A National Road Safety Traffic Management Board is proposed. Comprising professionals having expertise in the field, the Board will spearhead implementation of the multi-pronged strategy for improving road safety.

India is a signatory to the Brasilia Declaration which commits to halve deaths due to road accidents by 2020 in line with the target at 3.6 of the SDGs. The goal is challenging looking at past performance, but not impossible considering the focus of policy makers.
Many regions including in the developed world are seized of the problem of road safety and are making all out efforts to contain the damage. The EU for example has reduced road accident fatalities by 18% between 2010 and 2014. Noting that pedestrians (22% of all fatalities) and cyclists (8%) comprise the more vulnerable sections with the elderly among these much worse off, some countries have targeted regulations.

Statutory reflective clothing for pedestrians, enhanced penalties for motorists violating zebra crossings and external airbags are some. Dramatic all round improvement is called for in terms of citizens’ road behavior, regulations, enforcement and robust institutional structure in order to address the worsening road safety scenario in our cities and on highways. Improvement in the conditions for one set of road users pedestrian for example need not compromise the rights of other road users, namely motorists. Enhanced road safety is a win-win for all.