Safety By Example

Context:  The fact that more than 415 people die on Indian roads every day calls for creating a model for improving road safety in India.

Some steps taken so far for ensuring road safety in India

• Introduced harsh penalties under the new provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.
• Campaigns by the government: E.g. In ‘Mann ki Baat’ Prime Minister made a special reference to the govt.’s concern on road crashes and called people to become active stakeholders in road safety.

A model for improving road safety in India: Developing Zones of Excellence (ZoE) in Road Safety

• Some actions to be taken in a ZoE:
  • All roads in the ZoE should be properly lane-marked, zebra-marked, and signposted. 
  • Create a dedicated corridor for emergency vehicles.
  • Corrective action on the “black spots” should be completed on top priority.
  • Round-the-clock checks should be conducted to enforce adherence to traffic norms.
  • Station adequately equipped ambulances and cranes at closer distances to swiftly move away victims and damaged vehicles.
• Sensitize people about the norms and spirit of road safety: Regular road safety awareness and education programmes should be conducted in residential areas.
• A three-tier administrative structure to run ZoE:

1. 1. Managing group: for day to day operations comprising middle-level officials from the traffic police, highway regulatory authority etc., headed by a senior administrative/police officer with proven performance record.
   2. Earmarked officer from the district headquarters: To monitor the functioning of all ZoEs within the district and extend urgent help where such intervention is sought by the managing group.
   3. Separate minister for road safety: both in the Union and state cabinets.

Conclusion: The model will help usher in a welcome culture of traffic discipline, smooth aesthetic flow in lanes, and responsible citizen road-behaviour.