Most road accidents occur in known zones, solutions lie in focused efforts, Pg4

Key Highlights:

• A joint report by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and SaveLIFE Foundation on January 8 identified the top 100 Indian districts with the highest road accident fatalities, with Nashik Rural (Maharashtra) ranking first.
• These 100 districts accounted for over 25% of total road accident deaths in 2023 and 2024, with 89,085 fatalities.
• Uttar Pradesh had the highest number of districts on the list (20), followed by Tamil Nadu (19) and Maharashtra (11).
• 54% of fatalities occurred on 18 target corridors of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and state Public Works Department (PWD) roads, with 379 critical locations identified.

Detailed Insights:

• The report highlights that road accidents are concentrated in specific locations, suggesting targeted government schemes and budgets could significantly reduce fatalities.
• India ranks first globally in road accident fatalities, exceeding China (36% of India's toll) and the United States (25% of India's toll).
• 63% of road crash fatalities occur outside of National Highways, influenced by local road design, policing, and hospital readiness.
• Rear-end, head-on, and pedestrian crashes account for 72% of all fatalities, with speeding contributing to 19% of deaths.
• Common engineering issues include damaged crash barriers, faded pavement markings, unprotected structures, and inadequate illumination.
• The report recommends comprehensive Road Safety Surveys, site-specific interventions under Indian Road Congress (IRC) guidelines, and upgraded police stations for enforcement.
• Effective utilization of existing government schemes and better coordination among police, hospitals, and road agencies are crucial for reducing fatalities.
• The Stockholm Declaration on Road Safety aims to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by 50% by 2030, and India is a signatory to it.

Key Concepts Involved:

• NHAI (National Highway Authority of India): Responsible for the development, maintenance, and management of National Highways in India.
• PWD (Public Works Department): State government departments responsible for public infrastructure development and maintenance, including roads.
• IRC (Indian Roads Congress): Apex body of highway engineers in India, providing a national forum for sharing knowledge and best practices in road development.