Road safety

THE horrific bus accident in Kullu’s Sainj valley is another stern reminder for Himachal Pradesh to put an end to the piecemeal approach to road safety. Annually, around 3,000 people lose their lives in mishaps in the state, a devastating statistic that should spur a targeted project on road safety, bringing together law enforcement, vehicle safety, drivers’ licences and training issues, as well as post-accident care. Experiencing inclement weather, landslides and rockslides are a part and parcel of travel in the hill state, with an amplified risk of human error. The missing links are ensuring compliance with traffic rules and zero tolerance for violations, be it not wearing seat belts or helmets, speeding, dangerous overtaking, drug use or drunk driving. Poor road engineering and the absence of crash barriers or parapets exemplify systemic failures.

The recent changes in the Motor Vehicles Act have had an uneven impact, depending on the enforcement ability and will. In New Delhi and Chandigarh, technological tools have been employed to clamp down on violators. Getting a driving licence involves a foolproof testing process, and a culture of voluntary compliance has been inculcated. Himachal has invested in identifying black spots, stretches, causes, timings and collision types to work out remedies, but the enormity of the task requires a lead agency dedicated to the cause, flush with funds and an integrated roadmap that covers all parameters of making driving safer.

Last week, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a sweeping political declaration on global road safety, aimed at reducing road traffic deaths by at least 50 per cent in the next eight years. Central to the ‘safe system’ approach are sharing and promoting evidence-based good practices for addressing key risk factors. The highlight was giving the mission a multi-sectoral push. Just posting a traffic cop makes little difference if the basic issues of licence approval, vehicle registration, appropriate road design, raising awareness and trauma care are not taken care of.

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