[sustran] The road to safety OPINION » EDITORIAL

[Vinay Baindur]

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/the-road-to-safety/article5960266.ece?homepage=true





OPINION <http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/> »
EDITORIAL<http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/>April
30, 2014
Updated: April 30, 2014 00:21 IST
The road to safety

TOPICS
disaster and accident <http://www.thehindu.com/topics/?categoryId=651>road
safety <http://www.thehindu.com/topics/?categoryId=677>
transport accident <http://www.thehindu.com/topics/?categoryId=678>road
accident <http://www.thehindu.com/topics/?categoryId=682>

India’s roads have acquired a reputation, quite deservedly, of being the
most dangerous in the world. Rapid motorisation and fast-paced economic
activity over several years have been accompanied by an annual toll of
nearly 140,000 accident fatalities; injuries are estimated to be 15 to 20
times the number of deaths. In absolute numbers, more people die in road
accidents in India than in any other country. Apart from the human
dimension of the tragedy, avoidable death and disability seriously affect
economic progress — by some estimates, 3 per cent of GDP is lost in a year
due to the carnage. The recent decision of the Supreme Court to appoint a
three-member committee to suggest ways to prevent road accidents and ensure
accountability offers some hope that a new government at the Centre will be
compelled to address the issue as an emergency. It is not as if suggestions
for improvements for enhanced safety have not been proposed earlier. The
Sundar Committee constituted by the Centre called for an apex agency to be
created to assess all aspects of road safety, and to address the lacuna in
scientific accident investigation. Although the recommendation was made
seven years ago, it has failed to take off. Indians are travelling more
miles per capita today, and are at high risk for injury or worse.

Unsafe transport, including services operated by government agencies, are a
major part of the problem. Several ghastly accidents involving public
transport vehicles have been reported, but the State governments involved
have shown little sense of accountability. They routinely challenge even
claims for compensation. Their response to the need for improved
infrastructure has been woefully weak. In its recent report, the National
Transport Development Policy Committee headed by Rakesh Mohan suggested
that national, State and local-level institutions be set up, with
responsibility to address the issue of safety. There is an urgent need to
form these committees, and appoint professionals to them. They must be
empowered to upgrade driver-licensing practices, road systems, public
lighting and signage. Accident investigation, which remains a neglected
area, requires a thorough overhaul, and CCTVs can help determine the cause
of mishaps. Also, the neglect of the public district hospital network in
most States, and the high cost of treatment at private hospitals affect
access to good trauma care for accident victims. The right to life demands
that the Central and State governments provide medical facilities at a
proximate institution free of cost to all. The Supreme Court panel must
give road accidents the status of a public health issue that has acquired
alarming proportions. Reform to improve road safety cannot be delayed any
longer.