The Ministry of Road Transport has announced a comprehensive plan to address the rising number of road accidents in India. This plan involves the construction of dedicated lanes for two-wheelers on state highways and urban roads, while also implementing pedestrian foot over bridges (FOBs) or underpasses along major urban arterial roads.
Road Crash Statistics and Non-Segregation of Traffic: India has been grappling with a significant number of road crashes, with two-wheelers and pedestrians being the most affected. Government statistics reveal that almost 44% of road crashes and fatalities involve two-wheelers, while 17% of crashes and 19% of fatalities are pedestrian-related. Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs), including pedestrians, cyclists, and two-wheeler riders, account for more than half of the fatalities in road accidents. The non-segregation of traffic has been identified as one of the primary causes of these high crash rates. To address this issue, the Ministry aims to create dedicated lanes for two-wheelers, providing them with safer routes to navigate through traffic.
Inspiration from Malaysia and Consultation Paper: Drawing inspiration from Malaysia, where dedicated corridors for two-wheelers along highways have successfully reduced accidents, the Ministry of Road Transport has decided to incorporate a similar strategy in India. To develop effective strategies for road safety, particularly regarding VRUs, the Ministry circulated a consultation paper titled ‘SAFE’. The paper proposes various measures to reduce road crashes and fatalities and emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the safety of vulnerable road users.
Including Road Safety in School Curriculum and Annual Workshops: As part of its initiative, the Ministry plans to incorporate road safety into the school curriculum to raise awareness and educate the youth about safe road practices. Since more than 50% of road accident victims are young people under the age of 35, this initiative is seen as crucial in reducing accidents and fatalities. Additionally, the Ministry proposes organizing annual road safety workshops to further reinforce safe behaviors on the roads, ensuring that citizens are aware of the risks and precautionary measures.
Scheme Details and Objectives: The centrally-sponsored scheme (CSS) estimates an expenditure of Rs 140 billion to implement the road safety initiatives. The Central government is set to fund Rs 99.48 billion, while the states and Union Territories (UTs) are expected to contribute Rs 40.53 billion. The scheme revolves around three key approaches: mandatory initiatives, target-linked initiatives, and state road safety ranking interventions. These approaches aim to assist states and UTs in prioritizing critical road safety issues, promoting best practices, and establishing responsibility and accountability among them. The scheme sets ambitious targets, aiming to achieve a 70% reduction in accidents and fatalities per 10,000 vehicles and a 50% reduction per 10,000 km of road length. It also seeks to improve institutional capabilities, policy frameworks, and financial structures to create a more robust road safety ecosystem. Under this scheme, mandatory road safety interventions will be implemented with phase-wise targets, which will be assessed annually. States and UTs who meet their annual road safety targets will be rewarded with incentives. These entities will also be ranked yearly based on their reduction in road crashes, fatalities, and injuries.
Conclusion: The Ministry of Road Transport’s plan to construct dedicated lanes for two-wheelers and enhance road safety measures is a significant step toward reducing the high number of road accidents and fatalities in India. By addressing traffic segregation and implementing targeted initiatives, the Ministry aims to create a safer environment for all road users. The incorporation of road safety in the school curriculum and annual workshops highlights the importance of educating citizens, particularly the youth, about safe road practices. It is hoped that this scheme will contribute to a dramatic reduction in road accidents, making India’s roads more secure for everyone.
