“India is no. 1 in road crash deaths and injuries in the world.”
Global Status Report on Road Safety, 2015
World Health Organization
What is the road safety crisis?
VIEW ALL STATISTICS
Key factors responsible for road crrashes
Road safety requires a multi-pronged approach.
Our strategies are focused on addressing four key challenges.
Bad road-user behavior
Fractured licensing system
Driver training not mandatory
Negligible management of fatigue
Flawed road design and engineering
Road user conflict
Poor road design with disregard to Safe System Approach
Poor road engineering and maintenance
No safety standards for vehicles
Weak enforcement of traffic law
Weak Penalty system
Human dependent enforcement ; Minimal use of technology
Limited risk factors addressed in law
Lack of rapid trauma care
Lack of Bystander care
No standard protocols for care
No universal access number
National ambulance code yet to be issued
Road traffic in India currently operates within the legal framework established in the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. While the Act was enacted at a time when the growth in India’s road transport sector could not have been envisaged, it has only been moderately amended in the last 28 years with complete disregard to road safety and rationalisation of penalties. A number of key contributing factors to road crashes have not been addressed as the purview of the act is limited to “motor vehicles” instead of road users in general. Over 50 percent of road users, including vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists, are not protected under the ambit of the Act. This has led to a negligible framework for road safety in India with powers divided between States and the Centre.
How are we solving it?
POLICY ADVOCACY
We focus on compiling and generating authentic, verifiable data and information on Road Safety and Emergency Care in India and across the world. Based on original, expert reviewed research and data, we propose policy changes in two broad areas: Crash Prevention and Post-Crash Response.
LEGAL
We have identified certain gaps in the existing legal framework around Road Safety and Emergency Care in India. Based on detailed study of these gaps and after gathering authentic, original, verifiable data, we seek judicial intervention in order to provide interim relief until such time that the lacunae are addressed legislatively.
ON GROUND INTERVENTION
We provide model on-ground training programs and pilot projects across different parts of the country to be replicated by government organizations.