THE article, “Road accidents – A concerning trend” in Kashmir Observer, dated April 15, 2023 was an eye-opener and the need of the hour. Road accidents are the most unwanted thing to happen, yet they happen almost every day on Indian roads. As our cities grow in size and complexity, road accidents also grow in number. A heterogeneous traffic mix that includes high speed vehicles, vulnerable road users, unsafe road infrastructure and inadequately trained drivers – all contribute to the high fatality rates seen on India’s roads.
India has a dubious distinction of having the maximum number of road fatalities. Over-speeding is the major reason for all the common causes of road accidents. It is a natural psyche of humans to excel, and given a chance, man is sure to achieve infinity in speed. Studies reveal that 80 per cent of the accidents are due to the fault of drivers, most of them with valid driving licenses. It is difficult to ensure proper safety awareness for drivers and monitor issuance of licenses. New drivers need more comprehensive training and rigorous test levels on safety awareness. Education and enforcement can together bring about a shift in the mind-set of drivers. Better road sense, the ability of a driver to comprehend road signs, pay heed to speed restrictions are some of the driving etiquettes that will ease the pressure on traffic police. Discipline ensures safety and faster movement of traffic. Frequent camps on road safety with catchy slogans like, “alert today – alive tomorrow”, “A text or call can wreck it all”, “two-wheelers are for two, and not for too many, and “fast drive could be the last drive” will go a long way in preventing accidents. There is an urgent need to stress more on road safety awareness.
Ranganathan Sivakumar
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