Prepared by the TRIP Centre (Transportation Research and Injury Prevention )at IIT Delhi.
Highlights India’s slow progress in reducing road accident fatalities.
Emphasizes the connection between road construction, mobility, and differentiated approaches for accident mitigation.
Key Findings of the Report:
Analyzes road safety using data from FIRs in six states and audits of compliance with Supreme Court road safety directives.
Shows disparities in road traffic death rates across states.
Motorcyclists and trucks are frequently involved in fatal crashes.
Road traffic injuries remain a major public health issue in India, with little progress in reducing fatalities.
Most states are unlikely to meet the UN goal of halving traffic deaths by 2030.
Statistics on Road Traffic Injuries:
In 2021, road traffic injuries were the 13th leading cause of death in India and the 12th leading cause of health loss (DALYs).
In six states (Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh), road traffic injuries were among the top 10 causes of health loss.
Necessity of Crash Surveillance:
India lacks a national crash-level database to guide public policy.
Current road safety statistics are aggregated from police station records, limiting the scope for in-depth analysis and intervention.
Comparisons with other datasets suggest inaccuracies in road safety statistics, particularly regarding the victim’s mode of transport.
Road Safety Variations Across States:
Significant differences in per capita death rates between states: Tamil Nadu (21.9), Telangana (19.2), Chhattisgarh (17.6), West Bengal (5.9), and Bihar (5.9) per 100,000 people.
Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu account for nearly half of all traffic fatalities in India.
Pedestrians, cyclists, and two-wheeler riders are the most common victims; trucks are the leading impacting vehicles.
Safety Measures and Governance:
Low helmet usage among motorcyclists, especially in rural areas.
Only eight states have audited more than half of their National Highway lengths.
Traffic safety measures such as traffic calming, markings, and signage are lacking in most states.
Tailored road safety strategies are needed for different states.
India’s Global Comparison:
In 1990, an Indian was 40% more likely to die in a road accident than in Sweden or other Scandinavian countries; by 2021, this figure rose to 600%.
Questions raised about whether better-equipped vehicles are a solution since two-wheeler riders, cyclists, and motorcyclists represent most road fatalities.
Way Forward:
Prioritize road safety interventions at both central and state levels.
Establish a national database for fatal crashes to improve public understanding of road safety risks.
Improve the effectiveness of state-level road safety interventions.
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