Need for a Systemic Approach for India’s Road Safety Challenge

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

Context

• Recently, the Supreme Court asked the Road Transport Ministry to examine measures to reduce road traffic deaths by habituating the use of seat belts, helmets and child restraint systems.

Road Traffic Fatalities in India

• India accounts for nearly 11% of global road traffic fatalities despite having around 1% of the world’s vehicles, reflecting the severity of its road-safety challenge.
• According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 1.99 lakh people died in traffic accidents in 2024, an increase of 0.79% compared to 2023.
• Road Accidents: Out of 1.99 lakh traffic-related deaths recorded in 2024, 1.75 lakh (88%) were due to road accidents.
• According to Ministry of Road Transport and Highways data, two-wheeler riders accounted for 46.2% of road deaths in 2024, while pedestrians accounted for 20.6%.

Reasons for Increased Numbers of Road Accidents in India

• Overspeeding and Reckless Driving: Overspeeding, dangerous overtaking, drunk driving, and mobile phone usage while driving are among major causes.
• Poor Road Infrastructure: Badly maintained roads, potholes, inadequate signage, poor lighting, and unsafe road design increase accident risks.
• Weak Enforcement of Traffic Rules: Inadequate monitoring and inconsistent enforcement of traffic laws lead to low compliance with safety regulations.
• Lack of Proper Driver Training: Weak licensing systems and insufficient driver education result in unskilled and irresponsible driving behaviour.
• Rapid Growth of Vehicles and Traffic Congestion: Increasing vehicle ownership without proportional expansion of road infrastructure creates chaotic and unsafe traffic conditions.
• Weak Emergency and Trauma Care: Delays in medical assistance and inadequate trauma care facilities, especially in rural areas, increase fatalities after accidents.

Need for the Safe System Approach

• Safer Road Infrastructure: Governments should identify and repair black spots and accident prone places by technical interventions, better junction design, illumination and adequate segregation of traffic.
• Speed Management: Roads should be constructed and regulated for the safe operating speed appropriate to the environment surrounding the roadways and especially in school zones and areas with high pedestrian activity.
• Safer Vehicles: Vehicle manufacturers should be encouraged or mandated to include effective seat-belt reminders and other safety systems that are difficult to disable or tamper with.
• Protection of Vulnerable Users:  Road planning should give priority to pedestrians, cyclists, children and users of two-wheelers, who are less physically protected in the event of crashes.
• Better Post-Crash Response: Timely trauma care, emergency medical services and rapid delivery of victims to hospitals can greatly enhance survival following catastrophic crashes.

Measures Taken for Road Safety

• Global measures:
  • Road safety, a public health and development priority, is crucial to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 
  • In 2020, the UN General Assembly launched the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, which aims to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by at least 50% by 2030.  
  • Brasilia Declaration: India was one amongst the initial 100+ countries to have signed the Brasilia Declaration in 2015 committing to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 3.6 i.e.to half the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic crashes by 2030. 
• Steps taken by India:
  • Implementation of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019. The Act hike in penalties for traffic violations, electronic monitoring of the same, enhanced penalties for juvenile driving.
  • Computerization/automation of vehicle fitness tests, recall of defective vehicles, streamlining the third party insurance and payment of increased compensation for hit and run cases etc. 
  • Electronic Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR)/ Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD): Centralized system for reporting, managing, and analyzing road accident data to improve safety.
  • The Good Samaritan framework seeks to encourage members of the public to assist road-crash victims without fear of unnecessary legal or procedural harassment.

Key Committees & Policy Frameworks

• The Supreme Court’s Committee on Road Safety (SCCoRS) mandates the constitution of District Road Safety Committees in every district to improve road safety, as per The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. 
• Sundar Committee on Road Safety and Traffic Management (2005);
  • It recommended the creation of a National Road Safety Policy, approved by the Union Cabinet in 2010.
  • It also proposed the establishment of a National Road Safety Board to oversee safety regulations and enforcement.

Concluding remarks

• Reducing road fatalities requires India to treat road safety as a core public-policy priority rather than merely a matter of traffic-rule compliance. 
• Strengthening enforcement must go hand in hand with safer infrastructure, responsible vehicle design, effective speed management and timely trauma care.

Source: TH