NEW DELHI: Road safety has emerged as a critical challenge for India, with nearly five lakh accidents reported every year, resulting in around 1,80,000 deaths. Alarmingly, 72 per cent of these fatalities occur among young adults aged 18 to 45.
Children under 18 account for 10,119 deaths, while non-use of helmets and seat belts contributes to 54,122 and 14,466 fatalities, respectively. Overspeeding alone claims 1.2 lakh lives annually, with other factors like wrong-side driving, drunk driving and mobile phone use while driving further exacerbating the crisis.
To promote responsible driving and prevent road mishaps, the government is planning to introduce a grade-based driving license system with stricter provisions, including licence cancellation for certain traffic rule violations.
Addressing the third edition of the national conclave on road safety — “Indian Roads@2030: Raising the Bar of Safety” — Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday highlighted the enormous economic and social impact of road accidents, stressing that they lead to a loss of 3 per cent of the country’s GDP. “Not as many people die in wars or violence, yet so much of our young generation is being wasted. This is a serious problem for the country, and we should prioritise it and work to reduce it,” he said.
The minister outlined the government’s multipronged approach, combining technology, law enforcement, education and infrastructure improvements. While penalties have been increased, Gadkari emphasised that fear and respect for the law remain low, making public education essential.
Highlighting road engineering as a key focus area for road safety, Gadkari said previously, project designs were often substandard due to minimum criteria. Now, performance-oriented policies and audits, including contractor and DPR company ratings, were in place to ensure quality and accountability.
With regards to automobile engineering, Gadkari said the government had mandated six airbags for economic models and adopted Bharat NCAP star ratings, bringing Indian automotive standards in line with global benchmarks. Advanced technologies are also being developed for trucks and buses, where satellite-controlled systems can automatically prevent collisions.
Gadkari also urged people to become ‘Rah-Veer’ and help road accident victims. He said under the Rah-Veer scheme, citizens who assist accident victims by taking them to hospitals would be recognised as ‘Rah-Veer’ and awarded Rs 25,000. Legal safeguards ensure no liability for helpers, encouraging societal participation in saving lives, he added.
Gadkari stressed that road safety was not just a regulatory issue, but a societal responsibility. “The lives of our people are paramount. We have to save lives, and that is the basic challenge for all of us,” he said.