The Centre’s decision to provide seed capital to each State during the Twelfth Plan to start a road safety fund is a positive step. As a populous country with an extensive but mostly broken road network, and high volume vehicle sales, India has been remarkably indifferent to the effects of motorisation: 142,485 people killed and more than half a million injured in 2011. Mortality and injury in absolute terms have been rising over the years, and injury is grossly underreported. The litany of problems confronting road safety is discussed piously in several forums, particularly during annual government-led Road Safety Week events. Yet, when it comes to systemic course correction that will strengthen education, enforcement, engineering and emergency care, our policymakers have been found seriously wanting. The carnage on Indian roads has exacted a heavy toll, and is today a full-blown public health crisis. It would thus be naive to expect a new safety fund alone to bring about dramatic change when there is not much action on fundamentals. But the model that the Centre proposes is promising. The sanctioned fund will, for one thing, be non-lapsable and constantly augmented with 50 per cent of the penalty amounts realised from violators of the Motor Vehicles Act. State governments can spend the money only on area-specific activities approved by Road Safety Councils.
Two years ago, the Centre approved a road safety policy and committed itself to reducing death and disability caused by road accidents. Disappointingly, though, it did not follow up its promise with speedy action. In May this year, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways acknowledged that it had not been able to legislate a National Road Safety and Traffic Management Board, after the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture recommended the withdrawal of a 2010 Bill on the subject because it was not comprehensive enough. Among the issues the panel underscored was the need to eliminate corruption. That challenge remains, and must be met. Equally, a new safety paradigm focussed on the plight of vulnerable road users is needed to help walkers — children and the disabled in particular. Road projects must be approved only when they conform at least to Indian Roads Congress standards for pedestrians. The National Urban Transport Policy 2006 affirmed support for people-centric development, but road building unabashedly favours motorised vehicles even now. By credible estimates, pedestrians and non-motorised transport users suffer the most in India. The new fund can start by working to reverse this trend. That would make the roads safer for walkers and bicycle riders who form the majority of users.
Keywords: Central seed capital, Twelfth Plan, road safety fund
Now Roads get long and long the same way people also get more and more
accidents, the major reason is lack of concentration. However the
government fulfills a facilities of Road transport, the way of following
the Road rules is certainly not fulfilled.Awareness should be need in
each and every corner of transports.
There are many elements in road safety - the condition of vehicle,road,inebriated driver-
drunken,overworked without sleep- ,the incoming vehicle-.Drunken driving is one of the
most important reasons for accidents.Driving licences are given without ascertaining the
history of applicants and also through palm greasing.In addition to road conditions,traffic
management is another issue.Frequent failure of electric signs at junctions adds to
accidents.There are laws existing to punish breakers but there are no incentives and
awards to law abiding drivers.In a few cases last minute hurry to destinations invites
accidents.Traffic education has to be a part of general education including practicals to
students.Where ever senior students are posted in front of schools to regulate traffic,there
is orderliness and discipline.
Most of the violators of road rules in ndia go scot free .Unless there is an attitudinal change
is brought in the road user by harsher and deterrent punishment we cannot foresee any
change in the present situation.recent example is the questionable judgement of the
Supreme Court to let the grandson of a highly influential arms dealer with minimum
punishment for the of fence of mowing down six people under influence of alcohol .
Following measures which are simple to implement will improve the prevailing situation.
1.right of pedestrians to using the roads should be made to be recognized by vehicle drivers.
2.punishment for traffic offences should be more stringent with establishment of special
courts .
3Traffic violations and penalties imposed thereon should be incorporated into vehicle
registration books and driving licenses so that quantum of penalty should be made
progressively higher.
People too have a responsibility in adhering to road safety standards.
So many of us violate traffic rules, drive beyond the speed limit,
don't wear helmets or seat belts, cross roads by running - and in the
end blame it all on the Government. Sure, the roads need to be
upgraded, but it is also of great importance for the people to learn to
drive properly.
Road construction work in India is something like on-going task for life. The notable point is that same road being constructed, repaired and constructed every year. I cannot understand the methodology and material used by the contractor that cannot last even a single year. Secondly, the road building task has always been reactive and hence resulting is short sighted vision & temporary solution of problem. The roads are so narrow that they can't carry the traffic, just after few months, of their constructions. Light poles, signals and guide-boards are left to the public to take care of. What officers do on duty is well known fact! Come to Mumbai and see road construction of 2-3 kilometers has already taken 2.5 years and still going on. A superpower aspiring country can't afford all these malaises.
indeed a very good move but we have to wait whether this fund goes
to road safety and victims or embezzled
Govt does very little to save its citizens life which are important resources of this country. When politicians go in vehicle all the roads till there journey will be made clear and they can reach safely. This problem will be realized only all these elite politicians go in same traffic we go and face the problems because of it. This country always have two laws one for poor and one for the politicians.
The Government must make an extra break pedal operated by hand close to the steering wheel mandatory on all four wheeled vehicles. This will decrease motor vehicle accidents to a large extent.
(1) Citizens would welcome all efforts to promote road safety. Road safety fund is a welcome initiative. (2) Road safety week has become a mere ritual and has not fetched any concrete results. Actually obeying road safety rules should be regarded as an honourable duty and not a burden. (3) Merely spending allocated funds for promoting road safety may not serve the cause of safety unless funds are properly utilized. (4) We need far more transparency in use of funds for promotion of road safety. In the past it has been found that road safety promotion programmes had become a good source of money for dubious NGOs. (5) Regular health check-ups of truck drovers, particularly their eyesight testing, should become an essential part of all road safety initiatives.
The U.P.A. Government lacks implementation.
Its been observed that the central government brings welfare policies in the public interest always after the catastrophe and is never successful in implementing it. It has not given proper attention to the full-fledged development of highways. Neither it has tried to reorganize and restructure the existing roads. Its policy has always been towards economic downfall and more of the corruption.
After involving in corruption, it knows how to distance itself and blame others. The callous attitude towards road safety is never been the prerogative of the current U.P.A. government.This government is full of policies but its practicality is nil. That's the reason why still so many casualties take place.
As the number mentioned in the above editorial is shocking and blood curdling.What are the measure taken to ensure that the accidents which take place be narrowed down.For this the government needs to pay attention strongly and practically.
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