What Can be done to Improve Road Safety in India

In Indian roads, close to 450 people die on an average. With increase in numbers of motor vehicles and weaker implementation of traffic rules, this number is set to increase in the near future. The following are some of the measures for making Indian roads safer.

• Stricter punishments for traffic violations have to be awarded. This fear of punishment has made Chandigarh to have the most organized roads in India. Selfish attitude of drivers gets emboldened by poor policing.
• The central government should come up with an overall national direction towards road safety. As road policing is a state subject, states also has a major role to play. They should come forward in supporting the initiatives in this front as it involves the lives of people.
• Passenger and Pedestrian safety in the battery powered vehicles like e-rickshaws has to be drastically improved.
• Interference by political class with respect to the enforcement of road rules must not be permitted. For example, in the name of anti-poor initiative, the local politicians do not allow to enforce helmet policy in cities.
• There needs to be stricter prosecution in cases involving road disasters. There is a widespread belief that those who get involved in road disasters get away unpunished because of their wealth or access to power. Also, disturbing is the fact that in India, prosecution takes years to wind through courts.