Do We Care For Road Safety In India ?

Highways and Expressways are being built in India with a lightning speed but genuine concern over road safety is lacking. Situation on roads is chaotic with a mix of cars, trucks, buses, motor cycles, scooters, mopeds, auto rickshaws, cyclists, cows, dogs and pedestrians jostling for space. All users of the road are responsible for this state of affairs. Also one finds a critical gap between road safety laws and the system of Justice.

There are cases of large sized cars involved in fatal accidents. In many of them, drunk drivers have been found behind steering wheels.

The 4 essential ‘Es’ are not living upto expectation : Engineering, Enforcement, Education and Emergency Care.

Every hour 55 accidents happen, leading to 20 deaths. And every day these numbers are found to be 1317 and 474 respectively. Driver’s error contributes to 94% of road accidents in the country.

Golden Hour

First one hour of an accident, known as the Golden Hour, is very crucial. Many lives can be saved if injured persons can be taken to the nearest hospital or trauma centre. In an accident, not all die immediately. Some escape with minor injuries.

When an accident happens, police arrive but they are more concerned with recording statements. It can be done later, not at the cost of the victim’s life. Awareness about the importance of Golden Hour has to be created.

Discouraging Statistics

Statistically, India has the dubious distinction of having the highest number of road accident fatalities, worldwide. It is indeed unfortunate to note that 14% of global deaths due to accidents are caused in India. Among the Indian cities, Delhi, having the best roads in the country, is also the worst hit city when it comes to accidents. In one year, 1457 deaths take place as opposed to 915 in Bengaluru and 850 in Jaipur.

Among the states, U.P., again having best of roads and maximum expressways, is the leader in accidents with 23,652 numbers, followed by Tamil Nadu (18,347), Maharashtra (15,366), M.P. (13,798), Karnataka and Rajasthan.Nagaland experiences least number of road accidents.

Rising Fatalities

If one looks at yearly figures, a total of 4 lakh 50 thousand road accidents took place in the country in 2022 leading to over 1 lakh 50 thousand deaths. In 2023, these figures rose to 4.80 lakhs and 1.72 lakhs respectively. It was a 2.6% increase over the figures of 2022. Maximum victims were from lower and middle classes.

Despite such a large number of fatalities, fear of law is found missing among drivers.

CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS

OVER SPEEDING

This is the main cause on the highways and expressways. Apart from mistakes committed by a driver, upcoming vehicles having relatively easy drive options tempt those sitting behind steering wheels. We may remember – Speed Thrills, But Kills.

DISTRACTED DRIVING

While driving, people are either talking or looking at video or making calls on Cell phones, which distracts attention.

BREAKING TRAFFIC RULES

Wherever and whenever a loop hole is found, drivers tend to exploit that. This may lead to over speeding, overloading, not wearing seat belts etc.

FATIGUE & SLEEP DEPRIVATION

This may be the cause on the part of bus and truck drivers who undertake long and tedious journeys. Night bus drivers sometimes don’t get sufficient rest and are compelled to do duty again.

DRUNKEN DRIVING

It is the main cause both on the part of bus and truck drivers on the one hand and light motor vehicle drivers on the other. They try to escape the Police after taking drinks and then try to show their over confidence.

Incidentally, South Africa has maximum cases of drunken driving.

RECKLESS & AGGRESSIVE DRIVING

It is the prime reason at night and along national highways and expressways. Most drivers think that there is no one above them.

POOR ROAD CONDITIONS

This is another major cause of concern and it takes a long time to repair or rebuild the roads. Situation worsens during Rainy season.

NOT WEARING SEAT BELTS & HELMETS

These are worn only to avoid fines, not as a primary safety measure. Some front seaters keep the seat belts on their lap rather than fixing it. In the same way, two wheeler drivers of NCR working in Delhi, take off their helmets once they cross Delhi border. It is because of strict enforcement of rules in Delhi.

FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND ROAD SIGNS

This comes to light very often. Drivers of trucks and buses need to be properly trained in this regard in a country wherein driving licences can be obtained without requisite briefing and on paying a bribe.

CROSSING OF RED LIGHTS

It’s a big issue in Delhi but may not draw so much attention in a city like Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. Who does not want to reach home or workplace in time ?

CROSSING ROADS AT WRONG PLACES & JAYWALKERS

It is one of the main causes of accidents on the highways. Unless Highway Patrol Police get adequate manpower and devices, this issue can not be resolved. Apart from vehicles criss- crossing at will, many Jaywalkers too pose a serious threat.

HOW TO PREVENT ROAD ACCIDENTS ?

Strict measures are needed to discourage Bank loans For Vehicles.

Gaps In Public Transport need to be filled up. Point to Point connectivity is the Need of Hour.

Traffic Rules need to be obeyed. If all obey, people are bound to be saved from injuries and deaths.

One must be Aware of Road Conditions. Herein onus is on the drivers in the same way as responsibility is on road building & maintenance departments.Getting rid of unnecessary speed breakers too need swift attention.

Distractions must be avoided. Herein responsibility lies solely on the drivers. Ban on use of Cell phones while driving will have to be strictly enforced.

Proper Maintenance of Vehicle is a must. Same should be done in the area of promoting Road Safety Awareness & Education.

Installing Speed Governors in city buses is a good idea. It was tried long ago in Delhi but was discontinued.

Suspension of Driving Licence of persons causing deaths,

Regular Repair of Traffic Lights and Repainting of Road Signages should be mandatory. Similarly, Yearly Health Check Up of Drivers who regularly ply on on The Highways is a must. There should be strict measures against Two wheel drivers as they are involved in a maximum number of accidents.

HIT & RUN CASES

Whenever one has to discuss road safety, some infamous hit and run cases immediately come to mind. Those driving were invariably drunk and dying and suffering lots belonged to middle or lower classes.

Sanjiv Nanda Case

Six persons including three Policemen were killed at Lodhi Road in Delhi by an over speeding (140 kmph) BMW E38 car driven by Sanjiv Nanda. A large sum of money changed hands and he was acquitted immediately, to be found guilty in 2008. He was sentenced to only 2 years in prison which was also reduced to time served. He had to pay a sizeable sum of money as fine and do two years of community service as ordered by the Supreme Court in 2012.

Salman Khan Case

This pending case of Mumbai is also fairly old.
On September 28, 2002, famous film actor Salman Khan is alleged to have run over five pavement dwellers. He killed one person and injured four by his over Speeding Toyota Land Cruiser vehicle. Case is lingering on and injured are suffering due to leg injuries sustained. Neither the Court nor the concerned authorities are interested in settling the case.

Mihir Shah Case

It happened on July 9, 2024.Mihir’s BMW car rammed into a two wheeler killing a 45 year old woman and injuring her husband. Shah was found under the influence of alcohol.

Jahnavi Gadkar Case

It took place in 2015. The drunk lady driving a Porsche car hit a taxi and a two wheeler and killed two I.T. professionals. One was only 17 years old.

Lamborghini Huracan Crash

It took place on 30th March, 2025 at Sector 94, NOIDA. The speeding imported sports car ran into two labourers who were having lunch on a footpath. Deepak Kumar, a resident of Ajmer was test driving the car when the accident took place. He lost control of the speeding vehicle. Two labourers were hit on legs and sustained fractures. Unlike the above-mentioned four drivers, Deepak was not found drunk. A case has been registered against him but he secured a bail the following day.

Cyrus Mistry Accident Case

Cyrus Mistri, Chairman of Tata Group (2012-2016), died in a car accident on September 4, 2022, along with another person at Palghar, Maharashtra. The Mercedes-Benz GLC car driven by Dr. Anahita Pandole, cruising at 90 kmph hit a road divider. Driver and her husband survived with injuries as they were wearing seat belts but two deceased were not wearing them. Dr. Anahita was arrested after being discharged from hospital and charged with negligent driving leading to death.

ACCIDENTS BY MINORS

Driving by minors has become a rampant phenomenon. Very often such crashes are reported. Sometimes these errant characters do not harm others but themselves when their two or four wheelers hit a road divider or any other object.

Three accidents involving minors in driving seats were reported in 2024 in Delhi. In a March incident, a 17 year old Polytechnic student driving a car fatally ran over a woman and injured nine persons in Ghazipur.

Three persons were seriously injured in Geeta Colony in March, 2024, when a car driven by a minor hit them.

Many persons, including a seven year old boy were injured when a 17 year old boy driving a car hit them in Adarsh Nagar in December, 2024.

An 18 month old boy, playing outside his house, died after being run over by a car driven by a 15 year old teenager in Alipur. The minor allegedly lost control of the speeding vehicle which first hit a parked vehicle prior to hitting the baby.He attempted to flee but was overpowered by people of the area.

A two year old girl died after being crushed over by a Hyundai Venue car driven by a 15 year old teenager in Paharganj on 31st March.Police are trying to ascertain how the boy got access to the SUV vehicle.Teenager was apprehended and car was impounded.

PEDESTRIANS

It is the duty of Pedestrians to walk on pavement, cross roads at permitted points and resort to no walking on a Highway.

CONCLUSION

India has an alarming record as far as injuries and deaths caused in road accidents are concerned. Vehicles causing most accidents are : BMW, Hyundai i10, Suzuki Swift, Suzuki Baleno & Hyundai.

Justice is mostly delayed and punishment awarded is disproportionate to injuries inflicted. A Supreme Court appointed Committee on Road Safety too has not been in a position to make a dent.

It is time the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways took requisite steps.

This issue needs to be treated as a major issue of social concern.

(The author is former Chief Secretary, Sikkim)