ROAD SAFETY IN INDIA

S.K. MISHRA
DIRECTOR(ROAD TRANSPORT) GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

ARE INDIAN ROADS DIFFERENT?

Traffic conditions vary. Heterogeneous traffic in India ranging from pedestrians to animal drawn carts, non-motorized traffic, two-wheelers, cars, buses and trucks. Different traffic sharing the same road space while roads and vehicles get more modern.

GROWTH OF VEHICLE POPULATION

Year No. of vehicles (in million)

1951

0.3

1971

1.9

1991

21.4

2001

55.0

2003

67.0

COMPOSITION OF FLEET
Percentage share in 2003 Cars 12.9 Buses 1.1 Trucks 5.2 Motorcycles 70.9 Category

TREND OF ACCIDENTS
All roads
killed injured Accidents

Year

National Highways
killed injured

Accidents

1999 78911 80888 84674 85998 405216 408711 435122 399265

386456

81966

375051

103839 110508 115824 131738 127834

28713 30216 32108 33621 33153

98427 (P) 124600 119592 (P) 132307 131102

2000

391449

2001

405637

2002

407497

2003

406726

TREND OF ACCIDENTS IN RELATION TO VEHICLES

Accidents Fatalities Accidents per 10000 vehicles 86.12 Fatalities per 10000 vehicles 18.27

Year

No. of vehicles

(in thousands) 44875 386456 81966

1999

2000 54991 405637 80888

48857

391449

78911

80.12 73.76

16.15 14.7

2001

2002

58924

407497

84674

69.23

14.39

2003

67033 (P)

406726

85998

60.68

12.83

ROAD ACCIDENT DATA COLLECTION

Existing system UN-ESCAP sponsored APRAD/IRAD project

CAUSES AND COST OF ACCIDDENTS

Drivers fault 77.91% Pedestrian fault / fault of passengers - 1.36% Mechanical defect in vehicles - 2.01% Bad roads 1.32% Other factors like bad weather, cattle coming in the way, fallen trees, road blockage, absence of rear reflectors, road signages, non-functioning of road signals, etc 17.40% Cost of road accidents 3% of GDP (estimated in the year 2000)

MEASURES TAKEN ENGINEERING

Design stage Role of Indian Road Congress NHAI roads Geometric and safety standards including flyovers, grade separators, by-passes, Railway Over/Under bridges, bus/truck lay-byes, informatory retro-reflective sign boards, crash barriers, median railings, thermoplastic road markings, traffic lights and delineators. Bye-passes and service lanes Road Safety Audit

ENFORCEMENT MEASURES

Testing the competence of drivers at the time of licensing Checking the physical fitness of vehicles and their compliance with regulations at the time of registration and periodical fitness check of commercial vehicles Statutory use of helmets, wearing of seat-belts, detection / prosecution of drunken driving and prevention of plying of overloaded vehicles.

EDUCATIONAL MEASURES

Awareness campaigns through print and electronic media, Calendars, posters, hand bills/stickers and fund games for school children Observance of the Road Safety Week Appreciated by a large number of persons and organizations including Members of Parliament. Road safety part of curriculum in class VII under Central Board of Secondary Education.

VEHICLE SAFETY

Central Government has powers under Motor Vehicles Act. Both active and passive safety covered. Already legislated - safety belts, laminated safety glass for wind sheet, rear view mirrors, and power-steering for certain category of vehicles. A Road Safety Map under preparation. Progressive harmonization with ECE. Accession to 1998 Agreement of WP-29

IMPORTANT CENTRAL SCHEMES

Refresher training to drivers 46,458 covered in 2005. Model Driving Training Schools 10 already sanctioned. National Highways Accident Relief Service Scheme

ROAD SAFETY ORGANIZATION

National Road Safety Council. Department of Road Transport & Highways. National Highways Authority of India. Transport, Police, Health and Road Agencies at the State level. Committee of Experts to suggest a road safety body at Central level.

THE WAY FORWARD

A complete and comprehensive system and scientific approach to the issue involving all relevant agencies and stakeholders. Re-look at organizational issues.

WHAT CAN ESCAP DO?

Universalisation of road signs and signage. Promotion of time-tested safety devices such as seat-belts and helmets. Campaigns against drunken driving and for promotion of safe driving practices. Equipping and training police and other agencies to collect, compile and analyze accident data, investigate accidents, enforce speed limits and detect drunkenness. Sharing the best-practices in road-safety among countries of the region.

WHAT CAN ESCAP DO? - contd.

Networking of academic and research bodies Designing simple and effective technical aids to make driver licensing procedure safe and foolproof. Building and sharing motor vehicle and driver databases of countries in the region. Segregation of different streams of traffic on Asian Highways. Coverage of third-party insurance along AH

THANK YOU