Death on the move, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• A highway accident on November 3 near Hyderabad claimed 19 lives due to a truck colliding with a bus.
• The accident occurred on National Highway 163, which lacked dividers, streetlights, and signages.
• Human error is cited as the most common cause of road accidents, but vehicular and infrastructural issues are unaddressed.
• The SaveLIFE Foundation advocates for License Seva Kendras to improve transparency and driver skills.

Detailed Insights:

• The current road test for obtaining a driving license focuses on vehicle handling skills rather than safe driving practices and knowledge.
• Many accidents are rear-end collisions, indicating a lack of enforcement against tailgating and arbitrary lane changing.
• One in five accidents are head-on collisions, even on four-lane highways, pointing to wrong-side driving and inadequate road dividers.
• National highways often fail to adhere to Indian Roads Congress guidelines, and states have not mandated compliance as required by the Motor Vehicles Act.
• Inadequate trauma care infrastructure in states like Bihar doubles fatality rates compared to areas with better facilities.
• Implementing collision-risk warning devices in commercial vehicles and improving pedestrian infrastructure can prevent many fatalities.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Indian Roads Congress: A premier technical organization for highway engineers in India.
• Motor Vehicles Act: Legislation in India that regulates all aspects of road transport vehicles.
• SaveLIFE Foundation: An Indian non-profit organization focused on improving road safety and emergency medical care.