Traffic collisions in India

Multiple vehicle collision occurred on a busy road crossing at office time in Kolkata.

The frequency of traffic collisions in India is amongst the highest in the world. A National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report revealed that every year, more than 135,000 traffic collision-related deaths occur in india.[1]

Extent of traffic accidents

In New Delhi, the capital of India, the frequency of traffic collisions is 40 times higher than the rate in London, the capital of the United Kingdom.[2]

Traffic collision-related deaths increased from 13 per hour in 2008 to 14 per hour in 2009. More than 40 per cent of these casualties are associated with motorcycles and trucks. The most accident-prone time on Indian roads is during the peak hour at afternoon and evening.[1]

According to road traffic safety experts, the actual number of casualties may be higher than what is documented, as many traffic accidents go unreported. Moreover, victims who die some time after the accident, a span of time which may vary from a few hours to several days, are not counted as car accident victims.[1]

Contributing factors

Unsafe travel on motorcycles in Hyderabad.

The "Global Status Report on Road Safety" published by the World Health Organization (WHO) identified the major causes of traffic collisions as driving over the speed limit, driving under the influence, and not using helmets and seat belts.[1] Failure to maintain lane or yield to oncoming traffic when turning are prime causes of accidents on four lane, non-access controlled National Highways. The report noted users of motorcycles and motor-powered three-wheelers constitute the second largest group of traffic collision deaths.[3]

Economic cost

The Planning Commission in its 2001–2003 research estimated that traffic collision resulted in an annual monetary loss of $10 billion (INR 550 billion) during the years 1999–2000. In 2012, the International Road Federation (IRF) estimated that traffic collision results in an annual monetary loss of $20 billion (INR 1 trillion (short scale)) in India. This figure includes expenses associated with the accident victim, property damage and administration expenses.[4]

Measures to reduce traffic collisions

The Campaign Against Drunken Driving (CADD) is an organization founded by Prince Singhal which is campaigning against driving under the influence. But this campaign has been ineffective.[1] The IRF asserts that people in India's political sphere do not have the will to curb traffic accidents. Harman Singh Siddhu of ArriveSafe, an organization working for improvement in road traffic safety, asserted that a general lack of respect for traffic rules in India is a contributing factor for road accidents.[5] He also has pointed out that although the 2010s was declared by the United Nations as "Decade of Action for Road Safety", no celebration was held in India.[4] CSIR - Central Road Research Institute has developed an online accident recording portal. The main purpose of this portal is to encourage people to report the accidents they see. A group of Indian Researchers have developed a low-cost device which prevents automobile drivers from receiving or making cellphone calls when at wheel, but allows calls to other passengers in the vehicle.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Murali Krishnan (29 April 2010). "India has the highest number of road accidents in the world". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  2. ↑ TR Jain, Mukesh Trehan, Ranju Trehan. Indian Economy. FK Publications. p. 457. ISBN 978-81-87140-37-5. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  3. ↑ Global Status Report on Road Safety: Country profiles: India (Report). World Health Organization. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Road accidents cost India $20 bn every year". The Times of India. 19 February 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  5. ↑ "No U-Turn on Indian Road Safety". Harman Singh Siddhu. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  6. ↑ "Indian Engineers develop device which jams Cellphones of Car Drivers". IANS. news.biharprabha.com. Retrieved 17 June 2014.