Every now and then, precious lives are lost to accidents. Hardly any day passesby when there is no death due to a road accident.
In 2019, there were 449002 accidents across India, claiming 151113 lives, according to data available with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
In 2020, 131714 fatalities were reported as a result of 366138 accidents while in 2021, 153972 people lost lives in 412432 accidents.
According to the yearly analysis of available data, road accidents occur due to multiple causes such as over speeding, use of mobile phones, drunken driving and drugs, driving on the wrong side of lane indiscipline, jumping red light, vehicular condition, weather condition, road condition and fault of driver, cyclist or pedestrian etc.
Traditionally, people and administration has been quite slow in taking effective steps to improve among others the engineering of roads
According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, its Transport Research Wing (TRW) collects and compiles accident data from the police departments of all States/UTs with a view to provide relevant and reliable data on accidents. However, TRW does not compile road accidents data on the basis of road engineering defects. At the same time, the ministry informed the parliament in the recently concluded Budget Session that it has issued guidelines for conduct of safety audits at all stages including design, construction, and operation).
The National Highways Authority of India also issued a road safety audit policy a few years ago, prescribing Audit requirements as per IRC guidelines in all phases of the project.
As per the Ministry, road safety audit remains an integral part of detailed project report (DPR) and feasibility study as per guidelines by Indian Roads Congress (IRC), the Apex Body of Highway Engineers in the country and that action is being taken by the Ministry accordingly in all projects.
Also the NHAI has made third-party independent road safety audits at DPR stage mandatory.
There is a need for the transition to a professional road environment which requires the implementation of first-tier reforms that deal with the quality of road infrastructure, facilities for susceptible users and zero-tolerance enforcement of rules by a trained, professional and empowered machinery.
Education plays a key role. There is need to create effective public awareness about road safety through social media, electronic media and print media. Further, there is a need to impart driving training by setting up more Institute of Driving Training & Research (IDTRs), Regional Driving Training Centres (RDTCs) and Driving Training Centres (DTCs) at state and district level.
