Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Total road safety need to be ensured' that was published in Newsband

Total road safety need to be ensured

There have been many accidents taking place on Indian roads in the recent times. The Centre has been ignoring the shameful toll of death and disability for years, responding only with token measures. State governments mostly limit themselves to granting meagre compensation to the families of victims, instead of engaging in serious reform.

On paper, India is addressing several aspects of the problem through a Road Safety Policy: education of users, law enforcement, engineering of roads and vehicles, emergency care, and audits of highways. But none of this is really working. No major improvements have been made to the process of driver training and certification, in spite of a steady rise in the number of vehicles.

The ever-present threat of injury and death on India’s lawless roads violates the right to life, and calls for its vigorous assertion by citizens. Municipal governments responsible for putting up physical infrastructure should be held accountable if their failure leads to accidents.

The number of vehicles on road is increasing and hence the road tax collected as well, but the condition of Indian roads remains the same. Where does the tax collected for repairing roads and supporting the infrastructure go?

Both the central and state governments have the responsibility to keep the roads well maintained. Fixing the road should not be limited to only when there is a visit of some ministers in the adjoining area. It is the right of the tax paying Indian to have a well maintained road.

It is a shame that India has one of the highest number of deaths caused in road accidents. Main problem is that there is no space for pedestrian to walk on, thus forcing them to walk on roads which act as an invitation to accidents. Second the driving sense of people is pathetic. The driving habits are abysmal poor - drivers overtaking without indicators, vehicles going on wrong lanes and wrong sides, uncontrollable speed, lack of safety measures, talking on mobiles while driving, lack of sense of parking, use of high beam at nights etc.

What is the first thing required is proper driving skills without which any policy, safety measures would be ineffective.

The RTO officials should stop taking bribe while issuing the licences. Normally we find gross traffic violations happening right under the noses of policemen who don't intervene unless an accident happens.  Traffic police must be well trained and should patrol the roads and penalise errant drivers. Also road markings and signalling must be provided on all roads in phases. Pedestrian Traffic must be told to cross the roads only at zebra crossings to avoid accidents. Two wheeler drivers must be asked to wear helmets and talking on cell phones on road must be discouraged. Traffic rules must be told to pupils when they join middle schools.

The first corruption takes place when road tenders are filled. This should stop first and foremost. Insurance companies should also start chipping in for vehicle safety certifications, give preferential rates for more safe vehicles.

These are the ways to ensure total road safety.