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.