Driving has lately become no less than stepping into an online gaming arena where anything can happen at any time, and there is no surprise that with over 150000 annual fatalities India has one of the highest road accident rates in the world.
According to the available data of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways 449002 road accidents occurred in India in 2019, resulting in 151113 deaths and 451361 injuries, which caused an economic loss of Rs. 1.47 trillion, which is equivalent to 0.77 percent of India’s GDP.
Besides direct human and economic losses, road accidents cause immense emotional distress and trauma to the affected families, productive work force is lost, and huge amount of money has to be spent on treatment and rehabilitation of the victims.
Causes of Road Accidents
Reckless driving, over speeding, overloading, drunk driving, lack of maintenance of vehicles, poor road conditions and lacking safety infrastructure are commonly perceived reasons of high road accident rate in the country.
Roads in the mountainous areas of the country are particularly vulnerable to road accidents due to tricky terrain, unpredictable weather conditions, steep inclines, blind curves, and narrow winding roads. The risk of accidents is further enhanced by lacking experience of hill driving and missing roadside rest and refreshment facilities. Deep gorges, lacking crash barriers, remoteness and lacking medical care make accidents on mountain roads all the more fatal which is evident from high Fatality Index.
Himalayan state of Uttarakhand is thus prone to fatal road accidents and records around 1200 road accident related deaths annually. According to a report by SaveLIFE Foundation, the state has witnessed a 33% increase in road accidents over the previous three years.
It is therefore imperative to address this issue urgently, or else it will keep worsening.
Responsibility of the State
As regards road safety, the role of the state cannot be overstated. There are a number of key areas where decisive state action can make a real difference and help in reducing the number of road accidents.
Legal Framework and Enforcement: Clear and stringent laws and regulations together with their rigorously enforcement is a must to curb reckless and drunk driving as also overloading and over speeding. It is important that the consequences of flouting the regulations be severe enough to act as an effective deterrent. To ensure this state has to employ necessary surveillance and monitoring using state of art technology and penalise traffic violators.
Infrastructure Improvement: Better roads, bridges, crash barriers, roadside breakdown and medical assistance, dedicated pedestrian and two wheeler lanes and roadside refreshment and rest facilities together with traffic lights, signages, street lighting, automated surveillance and penalisation system can help reduce accidents.
Awareness and Education Campaigns: Road safety is however a collective responsibility, and therefore everyone has to drive responsibly and obey traffic laws. Awareness campaigns can help bring forth this realisation. The state can play a key role in promoting this message and educating the public about the risks and how these can be avoided.
Culture of Responsibility
Let us be honest, we have all witnessed someone breaking traffic rules at some point, or maybe we have done it ourselves.
But when it comes to road safety, we cannot afford to take risks. The importance of road safety education cannot therefore be overstated. We need to ensure that people understand the risks involved in reckless driving or over speeding. People at the same time should clearly understand that following traffic rules is not only crucial for their safety, but also for the safety of others on the road.
We therefore need to cultivate a culture of responsibility, where everyone understands his role in maintaining road safety.
Curbing the culture of reckless driving is crucial, but it not going to happen overnight. We need to work on creating a sense of responsibility towards safety for ourselves, our families, and our community.
It is easy to blame others for road accidents, but we need to take individual responsibility as well. It starts with every one of us, and the choices we make on the road.
We can all do our part in creating a safer future.
The Way Forward
Let us face it, we cannot afford to continue on the path of reckless driving and road accidents. It is time for collaboration and partnerships between the state, private sector and citizens to come up with effective solutions. Technological advancements such as automated surveillance and better infrastructure can also play a significant role in reducing the rate of road accidents.
But we need a sustainable approach that goes beyond short-term fixes. Awareness campaigns, road safety education and addressing the culture of reckless driving are just some of the sustainable solutions that we need to implement. Let us work together towards a safer future for ourselves and our loved ones.
Remember, road safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Conclusion
It is time to wake up and take responsibility. The rise of road accidents in India is alarming, and urgent action is necessary.
Everything however starts with the individual – following traffic rules, educating ourselves and others on road safety, and curbing the culture of recklessness are just some of the ways we can make a difference.
The state has distinct role to play by way of providing better infrastructure and enforcement regime.
By collaborating, embracing technology and implementing sustainable measures, we can create a safer future that will save lives, reduce financial losses, and prevent psychological trauma.
It is time to act now; road accidents have taken too many lives!
It is also time to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation and take necessary steps towards making our roads safer. Increasing toll of road accidents has become a major public health concern.
The first step in creating a safer future is to increase awareness about road safety measures. We need to encourage people to follow traffic rules, wear seat belts and helmets while driving, and avoid drunk driving. Addressing reckless driving culture prevalent in our country is also essential.
The state can help in creating infrastructure that is safe for drivers and pedestrians alike, and enforcing stricter laws to deter people from violating traffic rules.
By working together, we can create a sustainable and safe future for ourselves and future generations.
Let us act now before it is too late.
Our lives are precious, and it is our responsibility to ensure safety on the roads.
Article is very pertinent considering the road accident problem
If I am not wrong the Article should also highlight the role of poor road conditions especially in urban areas, where potholes are virtual death traps and those deaths should be highlighted separately
Not only potholes the nuances sagging /caving of road due to poor filling of material improper drainage has made driving hazardous: There are numerous cases where the cars have sunk due to caving of roads
The signboards are also to be updated wherever necessary to alert