- Indian roads are rightly branded as the most dangerous as more people die in road accidents in India than in any other part of the world with an annual toll of nearly 140,000 accident fatalities and injuries 20 to 30 times of these.
- Not only does in entail tragedy, avoidable death and disability that affect productivity, an estimated 3% of GDP is lost every year due to this.
- Recently, SC appointed a 3-member committee to formulate ways to reduce road accidents and ensure accountability. Earlier, The Sundar Committee constituted by the Centre around 7yrs ago called for the creation of an apex agency to assess all aspects of road safety, and address the shortcomings in scientific accident investigation.
- Government operating services are also majorly involved in this besides the State Govt’s lack of apathy in dealing with these cases.
- National Transport Development Policy Committee headed by Rakesh Mohan called for national, State and local-level institutions to be set up with responsibility to address the issue of safety.
- These committees must be immediately formed and must be empowered to upgrade driver-licensing practices, road systems, public lighting and signage.
- Accident investigation must be thoroughly revamped and CCTVs must be employed to determine causes behind carnages.
- Central and State Govts must provide medical facilities at a proximate institution for free and improve access to good trauma care for accident victims.
- Read at: http://www.thehindu.com/
todays-paper/tp-opinion/the- road-to-safety/article5961392. ece
Exams Perspective:
- State of Roads in India
- Rakesh Mohan Committee Report
- Sundar Committee
- CCTV
- GDP
- National Transport Development Policy