Curbing road accidents

The point is very relevant in our context as road accidents are claiming more and more lives and crippling a large number of people in the country. Worse still, most experts believe that the situation will further deteriorate in the coming years if no effective measures are adopted. While the developed countries have evolved ways to reduce the number of road accidents, the problem has become acute in the developing countries that account for 85 per cent of the 1.2 million deaths in road accidents every year around the world.

Violation of traffic rules makes the roads extremely unsafe. The violation is taking place at various levels. Unfit vehicles are allowed to ply busy roads; the drivers are untrained and inexperienced; overloading of buses and even much smaller vehicles is a common sight; even traffic signals are ignored, and so on. Add to this, the drivers can get away lightly by bribing the traffic personnel after breaking the rules.

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The structural problems are also contributing to road mishaps. Road engineering is a neglected subjected as is evident from sharp turns on the highways which create serious problems for the drivers. Roads are narrowed in many places due to the presence of shops and vendors. Roads are not repaired regularly which enhance the risk of accidents. Finally, absence of highway patrol gives the drivers a free hand. The situation turns critical when mini-buses and trucks move on the highways where traffic rules are seldom enforced. Mini-buses, in particular, have become a menace even in the city. The road transport authorities should review the situation and carefully examine the roadworthiness of mini-buses.

Obviously, commuters and pedestrians are also blissfully unaware of their responsibilities. And no worthwhile attempt is being made to create greater awareness among them regarding road safety.

The road transport authorities must work on the basis of a comprehensive plan to increase road safety, concentrating on enforcement of traffic laws and rules as the first step towards improving the situation.