The Path to Safer Roads

It’s a generally well-accepted fact that India’s road infrastructures and number of drivers are increasing at breakneck speeds, sadly literally as well as figuratively. In 2011 and 2012, India has been the dubious record-holder of the world’s highest number of road accidents according to the World Health Organization.

Admittedly, with such a large population, India’s statistics are bound to be dramatically high. But the numbers are appalling; in 2010 alone, 130,000 people were killed in car accidents, and numerous non-lethal injuries were sustained. The truth of the matter is that India’s road safety track record is very poor and the country has been paying dearly for it. According to one report, an average of 15 people dies every hour in automobile accidents in India. From a financial standpoint, traffic accidents have a huge economic impact, in terms of infrastructural and healthcare costs and victims’ compensation. A decade ago, a Planning Commission of India report estimated that the ignorance of the rules of the road incurred a cost amounting to 3% of the country’s GDP, or about 55 000 crore rupees at the time, a colossal amount for something that could be sharply reduced with a little road safety education.

But policies designed to tackle this growing concern have been lackluster. While the United Nations has declared 2011-2020 as the ‘Decade of Action for Road Safety’, India has yet to organize anything related to this effort. The National Road Safety and Traffic Management Board Bill, which should have laid down a framework for road safety rules, has yet to be passed. Once again civil society has been more reactive than the administration. The Indian chapter of the International Road Federation, an NGO promoting road maintenance and development around the world, has submitted a proposal to the Union Finance Ministry asking for extension of tax benefits in the coming Union Budget for companies and individuals contributing to road safety. This reward-based stance could be the beginning of a positive move for road safety in India as it encourages personal initiative for road safety education and could potentially provide more efficient and tailor-made road education than a State-designed program. We can only hope this works. Until then, drive safely and feel free to share your stories and opinions in the comments below.