Current Road Safety Crisis
India has one of the world’s highest road accident death rates — 1.68 lakh deaths in 2022.
Death rate: ~12.2 per 1 lakh population, much higher than Japan or the UK.
Road crashes cost India around 3% of GDP annually.
Road safety is a constitutional right under Article 21 — part of the right to life.
Urbanisation and the Need for Change
By 2047, 50% of Indians will live in cities, increasing traffic and risks.
Vulnerable groups like pedestrians, cyclists, elderly, and public transport users need safer streets.
India must adopt a Safe System Approach: design roads to prevent deaths even if mistakes happen.
Government Actions and Policy Efforts
Over 5,000 black spots on highways are being fixed.
Vehicle safety norms now include airbags, ABS, and road safety audits.
New driver training centres and vehicle fitness centres will open in every district.
Use of speed cameras and CCTV for better enforcement.
Future Strategy and Recommendations
Apply the 4 Es: Engineering, Enforcement, Education, Emergency care.
Encourage car makers to invest Corporate Social Responsibility funds in road safety for 20–25 years.
World Bank says ₹9 lakh crore investment over 10 years could cut fatalities by 50%.
Each ₹1 spent on safety saves up to ₹4 in costs and lives.
Roads must be seen as shared public spaces, not just for vehicles.
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