Question

Speech on Road Safety- Time for Action

Answer 1

Road accidents are a human tragedy. They involve high human suffering and monetary costs in terms of untimely deaths, injuries and loss of potential income. Although we have undertaken many initiatives and are implementing various road safety improvement program the overall situation as revealed by data is far from satisfactory. During the calendar year 2010, there were close to 5 lakh road accidents in India, which resulted in more than 1.3 lakh persons. These numbers translate intone road accident every minute, and one road accident death every 4 minutes. Unfortunately, more than half the victims are in the economically active age group of 25-65 years. The loss of the main bread winner can be catastrophic. Road traffic accidents are amenable to remedial action. Many a countries have curbed the menace of road accidents by adopting a multipronged approach to road safety that encompasses broad range of measures, such as, traffic management, design and quality of road infrastructure, application of intelligent transport system, safer vehicles, law enforcement, effective and quick accident response and care etc. The Government alone cannot tackle road safety problems. There is a need for active involvement of all stake- holders to promote policy reform and implementation of road safety measures. Addressing road safety is comprehensive manner underscores the need to involve multiple agencies and sectors like health, transport and police. The present study provides the magnitude and various dimensions of road accident in India. The analysis on road accidents in this study will help to create awareness, guidelines and assist in informed decision making on road safety.