Indian roads already account for the highest number of fatalities in the world. That number just became bigger with a 6 percent rise in fatalities in the year 2016. It is estimated that there are around 400 deaths per day or one life lost in every 3.6 minutes in our country.
According to a report by WHO (World Health Organization), a total of 12,50,000 fatalities occurred around the world last year. 40-50 percent drivers drive above the speed limit, which then hints towards the threat posed by speed. UN (United nations) held a virtual press meet conducted by Etienne Krug, director, Department for Management of NCDs, Violence and Injury prevention, Disability, WHO; Zoleka Mandela, ambassador, Global Initiative for child Health and Mobility; and Saul Bilingsley, executive director, FIA Foundation. The virtual press meet was held in order to launch the key elements of ‘Fourth UN Global Road Safety’ being held from May 8-14.
Studies show that 30 percent of the total road accident fatalities are due to violation of speed limits. This leads to significant loss of lives primarily among youth and earning members of lower and middle class families, resulting in financial troubles of all sorts.
Hence UN focuses on countries with lower and middle class population to bring awareness and to bring down the fatality rates. Naturally, India also figures in the UN’s list. The UN has five key approaches to bring down the fatality rates to lower than 50 percent right now.
1. First on the list is development of infrastructure. Good roads ensure safety and keep the traffic moving smoothly.
2. Second is to establish speed limits on each road. Travelling with set speed limits on each road is crucial to preventing accidents. For example, the speed limits would be lower in a residential area, moderate on a thoroughfare and slightly higher on highways.
3. Stringent laws and proper enforcement of rules and regulations by the government would ensure that everybody adheres to road safety.
4. Another measure suggested by the UN is to equip cars with technologies which will assure safety of pedestrians and passengers as well.
5. The last one is to raise awareness amongst the people. To look out for others and to be smart enough to avoid a fatal situation is the motive of this campaign.
With this initiative UN hopes to bring down road fatalities and save more lives. That being said, it is a two way street where citizens too have to live up to their responsibilities and not drive recklessly on the road. They also need to have a better road sense, as they must realise that many lives depend on their actions.
