India
is dedicated to reducing the number of people killed in auto accidents. This
calls for a multifaceted strategy that includes enhancing road infrastructure,
raising public awareness, stepping up enforcement, and streamlining the trauma
care aid program.
The
Ministry's concerted efforts to reduce the frequency of traffic accidents have
begun to bear fruit. Road accidents decreased by 4.1% in 2016 in India,
according to the report Road Accidents in India-2016. The data from the first
three quarters show that this trend is still present. Compared to the numbers
for the same time in 2016, there were 5.2% fewer accidents up until September
2017. During this time, there has been a 4.4% drop in fatalities. Between 2-10%
fewer people have died in traffic accidents over this time, with the exception
of the States of Assam, Bihar, Orissa, and Uttar Pradesh.
The
following are some of the steps taken by the Government to reduce road
fatalities:
1. New Accident Reporting Format:
A trustworthy database is necessary for an
effective road safety action plan. Therefore, based on the suggestions of an
expert group made up of experts from the IITs of Delhi and Kharagpur, the WHO,
senior officers from the states' departments of police and transportation, and
the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, the present reporting format was
amended. All States have implemented the new accident reporting format, which
will aid in concentrating on the major risk areas to increase road safety in
the upcoming years.
2. Rectification of Black Spots :
138
of the 789 road accident black spots that the Ministry has so far identified
are on state routes. 189 mistakes have already been fixed, and sanctions have
been given so far for the correction of 256 mistakes that are still in various
phases of bidding or advancement. Under the road safety annual plan for
2017–18, two (2) road safety enhancement projects worth a total of Rs 30 crore
have also been approved, and they are currently in the bidding or construction
stages. Along with conducting standalone road safety audits on National
Highways, road safety audits have also been started as part of all EPC/BOT
projects.
3. Training of Drivers :
The Ministry has been collaborating with
States, automakers, and NGOs to improve driving instruction. A few states have
developed Institutes of Driving Training and Research (IDTRs), which serve as
role models for Driving Training Centers and offer cutting-edge facilities. The
Ministry has also started a plan to establish driving training facilities in
all of the nation's districts in due time. It also supports programs for
heavy commercial vehicle drivers to receive refresher training.
4. Model Automated Centres for checking fitness
of vehicles :
20 Inspection and Certification Centers have
been authorised by the Ministry to conduct automated tests to determine if
commercial vehicles are fit for use. Six centres are already up and running.
These facilities will offer an impartial assessment of the big commercial
vehicles' roadworthiness. Given the positive results, it is now being suggested
that this program be made available to all 50 states within the upcoming
year.
5. New steps for safety of vehicles :
Two
Wheelers: Two Wheelers are heavily involved in
accidents and the deaths that result from them. Vehicle skidding is a typical
cause. With effect from April 1, 2019, all two-wheelers must be equipped with
an anti-lock braking system (ABS) in order to protect the priceless lives of
two-wheeler users. Two-wheeler on-Road
Safety is anticipated to improve dramatically as a result of this. A
daytime running system has also been made a requirement for all two-wheelers in
order to increase their visibility. All new two-wheelers come with a helmet as
a required accessory at the time of sale. This has improved two-wheeler riders'
adherence to the helmet law.
Motor
Cars: Automobiles - To increase their
stability and safety, all passenger cars must be equipped with ABS. One of the
year's highlights is the need that automakers include more safety measures to
vehicles starting in production in July 2019. These include required airbags,
reverse sensors, seat belt audio alerts, and speed warning audio alert.
Heavy
Vehicles: ABS must now be installed on all
heavy vehicles by law. The implementation of the bus body code would help to
increase passenger safety and ensure a minimum degree of comfort. The truck
body code has also been notified.
To
discuss and develop methods for lowering traffic deaths and to recommend doable
actions for implementation, the Ministry assembled a group of ministers from
several states. On August 9, 2016, MoRTH introduced the Motor Vehicle
(Amendment) Bill 2016 in Lok Sabha based on recommendations from the GoM. The
Bill addresses issues related to road safety by calling for harsher fines,
allowing electronic enforcement, enhancing the fitness certification and
licencing system, statutory provisions for good Samaritan protection, and
acknowledging IT-enabled enforcement mechanisms. The Bill also lays the path
for public transportation changes, which will help to increase road safety. The
Bill includes measures for treating accident victims during the crucial first
several hours after an accident, which will help save priceless lives. The Bill
also seeks to usher in a period of transportation changes in the nation and
streamline procedures for citizens dealing with transportation ministries. The
Bill has been approved by the Lok Sabha and sent to the Rajya Sabha Select
Committee.
Conclusion: Rules for Road Safety and awareness go
hand in hand. Road accidents will immediately decrease if people are aware of
how precious life is. As a citizen of a given nation, adhering to the traffic
safety regulations would also help to lower the likelihood of traffic
accidents.
Road
Safety regulations are another aspect of
manners that can be applied to everyday life. Time management is useful if we
are running behind schedule. Road Safety rules are necessary for all of us. In
a nutshell, adhering to severe traffic laws is a discipline that can save your
life.
An
estimated 1.35 million people die on the world's roads each year, and an
additional 50 million suffer major injuries, according to Akhilesh
Srivastava, a former general manager of NHAI and the current project
head for road safety at the World Economic Forum. With 11% of all traffic
deaths worldwide, India is ranked worst in the world; a person dies on the road
every four minutes. According to Akhilesh Srivastava, road accidents
have traditionally been one of the top objectives in transportation research
since they have a significant financial impact on economies and create
significant social distress.
However,
one specific factor that makes the research on road safety an even higher
priority at this moment is the fact that both the idea and the technology of
transportation are changing quickly. Speaking for Technology Driven Road
Safety, Akhilesh Srivastava discussed new prospects as well as
difficulties for those working in the field of road safety. As a result, it is
anticipated that the field of this research would experience tremendous change
in the years to come.
Source link: https://medium.com/@akhlisheshsrivastva/initiatives-by-government-for-better-road-safety-f54689c40fbd
