Global Death in Road Accidents

Context: According to a report by the World Bank, India accounts the highest in the world in terms of global death in road accidents.
Key highlights of the Report

• India tops the world in road crash deaths and injuries.
• It accounts for 11 % of the global death in road accidents.
• It accounts for 4.5 lakh road crashes per annum, in which 1.5 lakh people die.
• It has 1 percent of the world's vehicles, witnessing 53 road crashes every hour; killing 1 person every 4 minutes.

Major causes of Accidents

• Vehicle design and condition
• Road engineering, speeding
• Drunken driving/ consumption of alcohol and drugs
• Driving on the wrong side
• Jumping the red light
• Use of mobile phones.

Impact on Road Accident on Economy
World Bank Estimates

• The road crash fatality rate is three times higher in low-income countries compared to high-income countries especially in India.
• The crash costs at Rs 5.96 lakh crore or 3.14 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).
• The road crash and serious injury cost estimate at 7.5 per cent of India's GDP or Rs 12.9 lakh crore for 2016.
• Vulnerable road users are forced to share space with other less vulnerable road users, the income level of an individual has a direct bearing on the mode of transport used.
• This in turn further determines the level of risk faced by a particular road user.
• Daily wage workers and workers employed as casual labourers in informal activities are more vulnerable compared to workers engaged in regular activities.

The Ministry Estimates

• The socio-economic costs of road crashes are Rs 1,47,114 crore in India, equivalent to 0.77 per cent of the country's GDP.
• At the individual level, road crash injuries and deaths impose a severe financial burden and push entire households into poverty and the already poor into debt.
• 76.2 per cent of people killed in road crashes are in their prime working-age, 18-45 years.

Government Initiatives to prevent Road Accidents
Education

• The Ministry implements a scheme for undertaking publicity measures and awareness campaigns on road safety to create awareness among road users through the electronic media, print media, NGOs etc.
• Observance of National Road Safety Month/Week every year for spreading awareness and strengthening road safety.

Road Engineering

• High priority to identification and rectification of accident-prone spots on national highways.
• Guidelines for pedestrian facilities on national highways for persons with disabilities have been issued.

Vehicle Engineering

• Safety standards for automobiles have been improved including airbags, antilock-braking system (ABS), tyres, crash test, etc.
• Scheme for setting up one model inspection & certification centre in each State/UT with Central assistance for testing the fitness of vehicles.

Emergency Care

• The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 provides a scheme for the cashless treatment of victims of the accident during the golden hour.
• The National Highways Authority of India has made provisions for ambulances at all toll plazas on the completed corridor of National Highways.

Key Suggestion

• India needs to aim for safe and sustainable road systems: Research and development have proved that a range of interventions exists to prevent crashes and injury.
• Rules in books to be implemented: India has many good intentions, rules and statutes on its books but the gap between what is known to be effective and what is actually practised on the ground is often wide.
• Periodic fitness certification: Periodic fitness certification for all motorised vehicles, universalisation of road signs and enforcement of law and safety regulations are crucial.
• Zero tolerance towards underage drivers: We should have zero tolerance for underage drivers. India needs to consider severe penalties for violations; cumulative penalties for recurrent infringements should result in temporary withdrawal of licences or a permanent ban on driving.