People for Safe Indian Roads

Accident that could have been avoided

Road accidents are top killer of youngsters globally – this has been confirmed by a global study of causes of death in the 10-24 age group * now. The study was Published by Lancet on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) and National Health and Medical Research Council.

Here are some highlights of this report (related to road accidents):

• Road accidents the No.1 cause of death among young people around the world
• Traffic mishaps account for 14% of male and 5% of female deaths (for people below 24 years)
• The other major causes of death are violence and suicide
• HIV Aids is at 6th rank in causes of death
• More than 90% of these deaths are in third world

What this study reveals that present global priorities for adolescent health policy, which focus on HIV/AIDS and maternal mortality, are an important but insufficient response to prevent mortality in an age-group in which more than two in five deaths are due to intentional and unintentional injuries.

WHO indicated that road accidents could be prevented through

• Speed management, like measures to create low-speed zones in urban areas,
• Setting speed limits according to road type,
• Strictly enforcing drink-driving laws that limit blood alcohol concentration
• increasing wearing of good quality helmets and use of seat-belts.

* Source The Lancet Journal (the article is available for download free of charges)

Roads without deviders are the main reason for head-on collision in India. A head-on collision is one where the front ends of two vehicles hit each other, as opposed to a side-collision or rear-end collision. Head-on collisions are an often fatal type of road traffic accident.

According to U.S. statistics in 2005, head-on crashes were only 2.0% of all crashes, yet accounted for 10.1% of US fatal crashes. In India where road deviders or medians are missing on almist all reads this percentage will be much higher.

Why head on crash are more dangerous?

This is because the relative velocities of vehicles traveling in opposite directions is high. A head-on crash between two vehicles traveling at 50 mph is comparable to a vehicle traveling at 100 mph striking a stationary vehicle.

How to prevent Head on collission

Preventive measures include 

• Separating opposing lanes of traffic with wide central road deviders or median barriers to prevent crossover incidents. Median barriers are physical barriers between the lanes of traffic, such as concrete barriers.On high speed roads, the severity of a collision with a median barrier is usually lower than the severity of a head-on crash.
• Traffic signs and road surface markings to help guide drivers through curves

In India if we just have road deviders the casualities of head on collission will drop considerablly.

Here is a road without deviders

And this is a road with deviders

The main reason of low accident rate on a road with deviders is that unlike roads without deviders drivers do not get into opposite lane to overtake.

Any new roads being made – citizens and public employees please ensure that roads have deviders.

This contribution is made by an Anonymous contributor (Not wishing to be named)

Nearly One lakh people are killed in road accidents in the country in one year and millions of people are getting injured every year. According the statistics of National Crime Record Bureau of Minisitry of Home, Government of India, 1,05,725 people were killed in road accidents in India, during 2006. Andhra Pradesh accounted for maximum deaths. Full details available at:

http://ncrb.nic.in/ADSI2006/Accident06.pdf

Planning Commission had assessed the social cost of road accidents in the country in the year 1999-2000 at Rs.55,000 crores, which constituted about 3 %   of  the Gross Domestic Product of the country for the year.  Now it must have crossed Rs. Two Lakh Crores.

I am sure that at least 90% of road accidents can be avoided, simply by strictly enforcing the speed limits, if the Government has the will.  This means 90,000 people can be saved a year, rupees 1,80,000 crores can be saved.

I will be delighted, if www.safeindianroads.org can do something in this direction, as nonprofit organization. Let me submit below some suggestions to bring down road accidents, for your consideration.

• Heavy penalty for those who cause accidents.
• Tamper proof speed controllers should be made mandatory for all heavy vehicles. New heavy vehicles should have built in tamper proof speed controllers.
• Two wheeler manufacturers should be asked to design two wheelers with a designed maximum speed of (say) 50 kmph.
• Raising of lower age limit for two wheeler and Heavy Vehicle license to 21.
• Helmet should be made compulsory by law in all states, OR impose a lower speed limit for those who do not use helmet.
• Strict enforcement of existing traffic rules.
• Strict enforcement of speed limits.
• Law should be modified such that the person who made the accident has to bear (say) 0 to 10 % of the insurance claims, depending on severity of negligence. Also the compensations should be made very huge, making accidents unaffordable so that everyone will be very vigilant.
• All those who do not maintain the safe distance for the speed should be punished.
• Safety awareness should begin from childhood as it is difficult to impart awareness to a grown up a human. If safety awareness is imparted at childhood, safety will be a habit.
• Running time / kilometer for private / government buses should be increased.
• Time Punching of Private buses (practiced in some states) should be discontinued as it is forcing the drivers to go at high speed, after traffic blocks.
• TV and other media should be effectively used for Public safety awareness.
• Scientific analysis of major accidents / accident prone areas.
• Restriction of speed at accident prone areas.
• Enactment of stringent traffic rules.
• Immediate suspension of license of those who are involved the accidents, at least until they prove that they are not guilty.
• Cancellation of license of those who make serious accidents.
• Proper maintenance of roads.
• Strict enforcement of health of vehicles.
• Periodic eye testing of old aged driving license holders.
• Immediate cancellation of license of drunkard drivers / riders.
• Setting up of Judicial Commissions to monitor steps taken to control road accidents.
• Straightening / Widening of roads, Implementation of one way traffic and construction of medians.
• Proper marking of roads and signals.
• Humps should be clearly marked, to avoid accidents.
• Elimination of obstructions on road sides, caused by unauthorized construction / road side sales.
• Increasing visibility near curvatures.  Sometimes even cutting of grass to increase visibility can help save many lives.
• Periodic review of accident statistics to understand the effect of actions taken. Corrective steps should be taken based on these reviews.

The above list of suggestions is not exhaustive. Experts in the field will be able to supplement with more valuable suggestions. Some of the suggestions may be irrelevant or obsolete, but I am sure that most of the suggestions are capable of saving thousands of lives.

Wish you all success in your attempts to bring down road accidents.