Why does India’s road safety system keep failing?, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court addressed two major road accidents in Rajasthan and Telangana on November 10, highlighting the urgent need to improve road safety.
• In 2023, road crashes resulted in over 1.7 lakh fatalities in India.
• Key issues include flawed licensing processes, inadequate enforcement of traffic laws, and deficient road infrastructure.
• The absence of a robust trauma care system further reduces the chances of survival for accident victims.

Detailed Insights:

• The current driver licensing system lacks proper training and assessment, failing to filter out unfit drivers, especially for commercial vehicles.
• Enforcement against traffic violations is inconsistent due to reliance on manual policing, limited technological coverage, and weak data integration.
• Many highways and urban roads are poorly designed and maintained, lacking safety features like crash barriers and adequate lighting.
• Delays in trauma care and the lack of well-equipped facilities near crash sites significantly decrease survival rates.
• A proposed Right to Trauma Care law aims to establish time-bound emergency response standards and a coordinated trauma network.
• Addressing road safety requires a coordinated approach across licensing, infrastructure, and trauma care, supported by accountability.
• The Zero Fatality Corridor program on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway demonstrates that design-led interventions and enforcement can significantly reduce crash deaths.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Licensing: The process of granting permission to operate a vehicle, ensuring the driver's competence and fitness.
• Enforcement: The implementation of traffic laws and regulations to deter violations and ensure road safety.
• Trauma Care: Emergency medical services and facilities provided to victims of accidents to minimize injuries and save lives.