A REPORT ON ROAD ACCIDENTS AND ROAD SAFETY IN INDIA

N.Vishwaksen Raj
CE09M131

Road Accidents and Road Safety in India

Abstract
Road safety is an issue of national concern, with the rapid motorization and urbanization in the country. The number of people killed in Road Accidents in our country in the year 2011 are more than 1.5 lakhs, considering its magnitude and gravity and the consequent negative impacts on the economy, public health and the general welfare of the people an immediate action plan for implementation has to be adopted on Road safety in terms of Policy, Engineering, Enforcement, Enactment, Emergency services, Education and Environment to prevent the Road traffic deaths and injuries on roads. And also reduce the various costs associated with them. The preventive measures brought through this report further direct us to control or bring down these percentages by using different new safety measures, infrastructural design fatalities and latest vehicle technology. The recent strategies that are being adopted by the government to take care of the issues concerned.

Road Accidents and Road Safety in India Table of Contents

Page (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) (viii) (ix) (x) (xi) (xii) (xiii) Abstract................................................................................................................. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 2 4

Trends in Road Accidents, Injuries and Fatalities ........................................... 4-5 Accidents in terms of Classification of Roads ................................................... Spatial Distribution of Road Accidents (Urban in comparison with Rural).. Accidents in terms of involvement by Vehicle type ........................................... 6 7 7

Causes of road accidents ...................................................................................... 7-8 Road Safety Initiatives by the Government of India ......................................... Multi-Pronged Strategy to improve road safety: Steps envisaged ................ 9 10

Cost of Accidents ................................................................................................. 10-11 Remedial Measures ............................................................................................. 11-12 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... References ........................................................................................................... 13 14

Road Accidents and Road Safety in India

1. Introduction 1.1 With the expansion in road networks, rapid motorization and urbanization in the country, the number of road accidents have increased immensely. Road traffic injuries (RTIs) and fatalities have emerged as a major concern, with RTIs having become one of the leading causes of deaths, disabilities and hospitalizations which impose severe socio-economic costs. 1.2 Road safety is an issue of national concern, considering its magnitude and gravity and the consequent negative impacts on the economy, public health and the general welfare of the people. World Health Statistics 2008 cited in Global Status Report on Road Safety states that RTIs in 2004 were the 9th leading cause of death and at current rates by 2030 are expected to be the 5th leading cause of death, overtaking diabetes and HIV/AIDS. 1.3 The United Nations has rightly proclaimed 2011-20 as the decade of action on road safety and have called upon all member countries to prepare a decadal action plan for implementation in their respective countries so that the present rising trend of road accidents stabilizes and is reversed by the year 2020. 1.4 The road network in India, the numbers of registered motor vehicles in the country and the countrys population have increased at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.4 per cent, 9.9 per cent and 1.6 per cent, respectively, during the decade 2001 to 2011. During the same period, the number of road accidents in the country increased at a CAGR of 2.1 per cent. Similarly, the number of road accident fatalities and the number of persons injured in road accidents in the country between 2001 and 2011 increased by 5.8 per cent and 2.4 per cent, respectively.

2. Trends in Road Accidents, Injuries and Fatalities 2.1 While the CAGR of the number of accidents and the number of road accident injuries has moderated during the decade 2001 to 2011, as compared to the previous decade 1991 to 2001, there has been a spurt in the CAGR of the number of road accident fatalities during the latter period (Table 1). Table 1: Growth in Select Accident Related Parameters: CAGR in per cent Number of Number of Number of Number of Period Persons Registered Accidents Fatalities Injured Vehicles 2001/1991 2011/2001 3.2 2.1 3.7 5.8 4.7 2.4 9.9 9.9

Road Length (in kilometer) 3.7 3.4

2.2

Between 1970 and 2011, the number of accidents increased by 4.4 times accompanied with 9.8 times increase in fatalities and 7.3 times increase in the number of persons injured, in the backdrop of more than 100 fold increase in the number of registered motor vehicles and close to 4 fold increase in the road network. 4

Road Accidents and Road Safety in India

2.3 As a result of concerted and coordinated road safety efforts there has been a decline of the order 3.1 per cent and 0.4 per cent in the number of persons injured and the number of road accidents, respectively, in 2011, compared to 2010. However, the number of fatalities increased by 5.9 per cent in 2011. 2.4 The total number of road accidents in India during calendar year 2011 was 4,97,686, having declined by 0.4 per cent over 2010 level. For the first time since 2003, the total number of road accidents registered a decline. 2.5 Growth in the number of persons killed in road accidents moderated from 7 per cent in 2010 to 5.9 per cent during 2011. 2.6 The number of persons injured in road accidents during 2011 at 5,11,394 were lower by per cent as compared with 2010 level.

Table 2: Number of Road Accidents and Number of Persons Involved: 2002 to 2011 Year Number of Accidents Total 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 4,07,497 4,06,726 4,29,910 4,39,255 4,60,920 4,79,216 4,84,704 4,86,384 4,99,628 2011 (P) 4,97,686 Fatal 73,650 (18.1) 73,589 (18.1) 79,357 (18.5) 83,491 (19.0) 93,917 (20.4) 1,01,161 (21.1) 1,06,591 (22.0) 1,10,993 (22.8) 1,19,558 (23.9) 1,21,618 (24.4) Number of Persons Killed 84,674 85,998 92,618 94,968 Injured 408,711 435,122 464,521 465,282 Accident Severity* 20.8 21.1 21.5 21.6 22.9 23.9 24.7 25.8 26.9 28.6

105,749 496,481 114,444 513,340 119,860 523,193 125,660 515,458 134,513 527,512 1,42,485 5,11,394

(P): Provisional. Source: Information supplied by States/UTs (Police Departments). Figures within parentheses indicate share of fatal accidents to total accidents. * Accident Severity : No. of Persons Killed per 100 Accidents

Road Accidents and Road Safety in India

3. Accidents in terms of Classification of Roads 3.1 National Highways accounted for 30.1 per cent in total road accidents and 37.1 per cent In total number of persons killed in 2011. State Highways accounted for 24.6 per cent of total accidents and a share of 27.4 per cent in the total number of persons killed in road accidents in 2011 (Tables 3 and 4). Highways permit greater speed resulting in relatively greater number of road accidents and fatalities . Table 3: Number of Accidents and Number of Persons Killed and Injured as per Type of Road: 2002 to 2011 National Highways State Highways Percentage Share in Percentage Share in Year Total Number Number Total Number Number of Number of Persons of Persons Number of Persons Persons Injured Injured of Road Killed of Road Killed Accident Accident 2002 32.3 39.7 32.4 23.5 27.2 25.4 s s 2003 31.4 38.6 30.1 22.4 28.2 26.7 2004 30.3 37.5 30.8 23.5 26.9 24.9 2005 29.6 37.3 31.3 23.6 27.2 25.7 2006 30.4 37.7 30.8 18.5 26.8 24.9 2007 29.0 35.5 30.2 24.4 27.7 26.2 2008 28.5 35.6 28.6 25.6 28.4 27.5 2009 29.3 36.0 29.6 23.8 27.1 25.5 2010 30.0 36.1 31.3 24.5 27.3 26.0 2011(P) 30.1 37.1 30.5 24.6 27.4 26.1 There are no State Highways declared in Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Delhi. For the years 2002 to 2010, figures furnished by Police Departments of Arunachal Pradesh and Chandigarh include road accidents on 'Other Roads' and those by Police Department of Delhi include road accidents on Ring Road and Outer Ring Road. (P) : Provisional

Table 4: Number of Accidents, Persons Killed & Injured as per Road Road Classification No. of Accidents No. of Persons Killed No. of Persons Injured National Highways 149,732 (30.1) 52,924 (37.1) 156,008 (30.5) State Highways 122,239 (24.6) 39,033 (27.4) 133,435 (26.1)

Classification (2011) Other Roads 225,715 (45.3) 50,528 (35.5) 221,951 (43.4)

Note: Figures within parentheses indicate share in total accidents, killed and injured in the respective road categories.

Road Accidents and Road Safety in India

4. Spatial Distribution of Road Accidents (Urban in comparison with Rural) 4.1 In 2011, the total number of accidents that occurred in rural areas was more than that in the urban areas; the former accounting for 53.5 per cent (2,66,231) and the latter accounting for 46.5 percent (2,31,455) of total accidents. Rural areas had more fatalities (63.4 per cent) than urban areas (36.6 per cent). The number of persons injured was also more in rural areas (59.4 per cent) as compared to urban areas (40.6 per cent).

5. Accidents in terms of involvement by Vehicle type 5.1 Motorized vehicles accounted for 92.4 per cent of the total road accidents in the year 2011. Amongst the vehicle categories, two-wheelers accounted for the highest share in total road accidents (23.7 per cent), followed by trucks, tempos, tractors and other articulated vehicles 22.4 per cent), cars, jeeps and taxis (21.3 per cent), other motor vehicles (9.4 per cent), buses (8.7 per cent) and auto rickshaws (6.9 per cent) in 2011 (Table 5). The category of trucks, tempos, tractors and other articulated vehicles accounted for the highest proportion of fatalities (27.4 per cent of the persons killed).

Table 5: Share of Different Vehicles Killed in Total Road Accidents, Fatal Accidents, Persons and Injured (2011) Parameters Buses Trucks, TwoAuto Cars, Other Other tempos, Motor Vehicles/ wheelers rickshaws Jeeps tractors and Vehicles Objects other & articulated vehicles Taxis Accidents 23.7 6.9 21.3 8.7 22.4 9.4 7.6 Fatal Accidents 19.9 4.3 18.2 9.2 28.4 10.4 9.6 Persons Killed 19.2 4.3 17.6 9.2 27.4 12.0 10.3 Persons Injured 22.5 7.8 20.4 11.0 21.6 9.5 7.2 Note: Two-Wheelers include motor cycles, scooters & mopeds; Other Vehicles/Objects include cycles, cycle rickshaws, hand-drawn vehicles, pedestrians, animals, trees, level crossings & other fixed objects.

6. Causes of road accidents The various causes of road accidents are: 6.1 Road Users - Excessive speed and rash driving, violation of traffic rules, failure to perceive traffic situation or sign or signal in adequate time, carelessness, fatigue, alcohol, sleep etc. The analysis of road accidents in terms of causal factors reveals that drivers fault is the single most important factor responsible for accidents, fatalities and injuries. Drivers fault accounted for 77.5 per cent (Chart 1) (3,85,806 accidents) of total accidents; 72 per cent (1,02,620) of the total number of persons killed and 78.2 per cent (3,99,911) of the total number of persons injured in road accidents during 2011 7

Road Accidents and Road Safety in India

6.2 Vehicle - Defects such as failure of brakes, steering system, tire burst, lighting system. Defects in the motor vehicles caused 1.6 per cent of road accidents and 2.1 per cent of fatalities in road accidents. 6.3 Road Condition - Skidding road surface, pot holes, ruts. 6.4 Road design - Defective geometric design like inadequate sight distance, inadequate width of shoulders, improper curve design, improper traffic control devices and improper lighting,. 6.5 Environmental factors - Unfavorable weather conditions like mist, snow, smoke and heavy rainfall which restrict normal visibility and makes driving unsafe. 6.6 Other causes - Improper location of advertisement boards, gate of level crossing not closed when required etc...

Road Accidents and Road Safety in India

7. Road Safety Initiatives by the Government of India

Measures taken to minimize accidents: 7.1 The main thrust of accident prevention and control across the world has been on 4 Es, Education, (ii) Enforcement, (iii) Engineering and (iv) Environment and Emergency care of road accident victims. The Government of India has been focusing on all these four approaches in its policies and programmes and proposes to add two more Es i.e. Engineering (Vehicles) and Enactment with appropriate measures to strengthen the machinery both at Central, State and District level to look after road safety issues. 7.2 As per the deliberations in the 12th meeting of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), held on 25th March 2011 the Ministry constituted five separate working groups on four Es of Road Safety viz. (i) Education (ii) Enforcement (iii) Engineering (roads as well as vehicles) and Emergency care to deliberate in detail and submit their recommendations on short term and long term measures to curb road accident in the country 7.3 The Ministry intends to bring out a detailed policy document including action on road safety on the basis of recommendations of the reports of the Working Group on 4 Es.

Steps taken by Central Government to improve road safety 7.4 Road safety is a multi-sectoral and multi-dimensional issue requiring a multipronged approach at various levels. This Ministry has taken several steps to improve safety for road users, which are as under: i) The Government has already approved a National Road Safety Policy. This Policy outlines various policy measures such as promoting awareness, establishing road safety information data base, encouraging safer road infrastructure including application of intelligent transport, enforcement of safety laws, etc. The Government has constituted National Road Safety Council as the apex body to take policy decisions in matters of road safety. The Ministry has requested all States/UTs for setting up of State Road Safety Councils and District Road Safety Committees. The Ministry has adopted a multi pronged strategy to address the issue of road safety based on four Es of Road Safety viz. (i) Education (ii) Enforcement (iii) Engineering (roads as well as vehicles) and (iv) Emergency care. Road safety has been made an integral part of road design at the planning stage. Road Safety Audit of selected stretches of National Highways/Expressways. Establishment of driving training institutes. Tightening of safety standards of vehicles like helmets, seat belts, power-steering, rear view mirror. Publicity campaigns on road safety awareness

ii)

iii)

iv) v) vi) vii) viii)

Road Accidents and Road Safety in India

8. 8.1 Multi-Pronged Strategy to improve road safety: Steps envisaged The 13th meeting of NRSC, held on 29th February 2012, discussed the following measures to improve road safety:

identification of black spots and treatment thereof, setting up of State Road Safety Councils and District Road Safety Committees, setting up of road safety fund at State level including mechanism of diverting 50 percent penalties collected towards traffic violations in this fund, (iv) replication of Tamil Nadu model for implementation of Road Accident Data Management System (RADMS), (v) action against over-loading, action against drunken driving and removal of liquor shops on NHs, (vi) enforcement of use of seat belt by four wheelers and use of ISI helmets by two wheelers, (vii) developing emergency medical services by having a 24X7 call centre with a dedicated common telephone number backed by ambulances, (viii) road accident crash investigation, (ix) conspicuity of non-transport vehicles during night time by fixing reflective tapes, (x) accreditation of IDTRs/DTIs for issuing of permanent driving licenses, (xi) compulsory training before issuance of permanent driving license for commercial vehicles, (xii) accreditation of fitness centers to provide objective fitness certificate by RTOs and developing their audit mechanism, (xiii) improvement of Vahan and Sarthi software for computerization of all RTOs including uploading of legacy data, improvement in the software for recording repeated traffic violations, detection of fraudulent driving licenses, etc. All States were urged to give due priority to road safety and address the above issues in a time bound manner. (i) (ii) (iii) 9. Cost of Accidents

9.1 The cost to society such as lost productivity and economic opportunity, diverted institutional resources, as also the cost to accident victim, to their families, to Government, to insurer, to tax payers and damage to property etc can be estimated in economic terms. However, valuing the psycho-social issues likes suffering and loss of life associated with road traffic injuries is difficult and often contentious. It is difficult to assign monetary value on pain and suffering caused by road accidents. 9.2 Social cost of road accidents can be the direct cost of illness like the cost of medical treatment as also the indirect cost of illness like the loss in productivity associated with the death or injury. The cost of medical treatment normally include emergency treatment, initial medical cost, and for serious injuries the cost of long term care and rehabilitation. 9.3 Medical cost also include emergency transport, rehabilitation, mental health, treatment cost, funeral expenses, administrative cost of processing medical payments to providers etc. productivity losses include the value of lost house hold services and the value of lost earnings for the victim, care givers and family replacement cost of lost house hold work, compensation for lost earnings through litigation, insurance or welfare programs etc. 10

Road Accidents and Road Safety in India

Injured people often suffer physical pain and emotional anguish that is beyond any economic compensation. Permanent disability, paraplegia, quadriplegia, loss of eye sight, or brain damage, can deprive an individual of the ability to achieve even minor goals and result in dependence on others for economic support and routine physical care. 9.4 Other resource costs include police, legal, fire, victim services plus cost of property damage or loss in injury incidents. 9.5 Medical cost and lost productivity do not capture the psychological losses associated with road traffic crashes, either to those injured or to their families. These costs might possibly exceed the productivity losses and medical costs associated with pre mature death, were they accurately quantifiable. Road traffic crashes also place a heavy burden on the family and friends of the injured person, many of whom also experience adverse social, physical and psychological effects 10. Remedial Measures 10.1 Identification of Black spots To tackle road traffic accidents, it is necessary that accident prone locations on the highways need to be identified scientifically and suitable improvement schemes to be implemented on priority basis. It is seen that over speeding and unhealthy competition of private buses on highways result in many accidents. To control speed at certain locations, the police and/ or local people put up check barriers across major roads. This is counterproductive, since motorist are caught unaware of such man made barriers without any warning. This results in minor accidents involving two wheelers losing control over speed breakers. As per the Government of India circular, speed breakers should not be constructed on highways, as this would defeat the basic purpose of providing obstruction free movement. It is suggested that such unauthorized speed breakers be removed on National Highways. 10.2 Implementation of Road Safety Programme The Government took various administrative measures like revival of Kerala State Road Safety Council under the Chairman ship of transport Minister, reactivated road safety committees at district level and local level, provision of adequate road safety funds, organizing public awareness programme and strict enforcement of traffic rules. These measures resulted in reduction of accident rate and causalities in the state. A road safety policy for the state should be formulated spelling out the target for reduction of accidents and causalities in the coming years. The immediate task should be to bring down the accident rate at least on par with all Indian average, i.e. reduce the accident rate by half. An action plan for the implementation of Road Safety Programme should be formulated. As the matter requires multi department involvement, a High Power Committee may be formed to review the progress and monitor implementation of various schemes. 10.3 Multidisciplinary Road Safety Task Force Lack of inter departmental coordination results in delay in implementation of road safety measures. Traffic police are not available in adequate numbers except in major cities. Even available police personnel are posted for other duties. There is a need to set up a dedicated Traffic Police Wing in each district and also for major towns in the state. Multidisciplinary Road Safety Task Force should be constituted in each district that could be given special training. This task force should visit the accident sites and prepare investigation reports on various aspects and recommended suitable safety measures.

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Road Accidents and Road Safety in India

Poor eye sight of drivers has been one of the main reasons for increase in the number of accidents on the roads. A comprehensive medical checkup should be made compulsory before issuing driving license. Highway patrolling should be extended to all major roads and should not be limited to NHs only. They should be given special training for the evacuation of accident victims, providing emergency relief measures and also arranging first aid to the injured persons. 10.4 Regulating Parking zones Unauthorized parking of auto rickshaw, taxi, tempo vans along the main road causes obstruction to smooth movement of traffic. These parking should be regulated away from the main carriage way portion bus stop around the junctions (within 60 meters) should be banned. If at all necessary, bus stops can be permitted on the service road or 75 to 100 meter beyond the junction without interfering to main traffic flow. Segregated bus bays should be provided on all major roads, conforming to Indian Roads Congress specifications. 10.5 Enforcement on Drunk driving Another reason for increase in accidents is drunk driving. Regular breath analyzer checking by police on the roads should be carried out on highways. 10.6 Road Safety education Road Safety education for school children should be introduced as a part of curriculum. 10.7 Planting Trees on the roadside To minimize the glare related accidents in night, planting of trees on road side should be undertaken without affecting the sight distance. The road dividers, traffic islands should be green turf rather than concreting. Encroachment along highways is a common phenomenon. The unutilized portion should be productively put to use by green parks and tree plantation. 10.8 Road Safety Campaign Human failure is cited as a major reason for causing majority of accidents in the state. Hence an intensive Road Safety Campaign should be organized throughout the state by all concerned departments. The campaign should be focus on various target groups. NGOs, academic institutions may be entrusted with this task, with adequate funds to carry out this in a sustained manner. 10.9 Speed limit Over speeding on the roads cause a number of fatal accidents, especially on the National Highways. Speed zones should be clearly notified for major arterial roads in the state, specifying speed limit for urban areas of NH, Rural areas, bypasses and city roads. Violations should be punished by police. Adequate number of radars should be made available to enforcing agencies to check over speeding vehicles. 10.10 Banning Mobile phone usage while driving Use of mobile phone while driving diverts the attention of drivers, resulting in a number of accidents and near miss situations. Hence use of mobile phone and pager service while driving a vehicle should be checked by special squad all over the state.

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Road Accidents and Road Safety in India

10.11 Rewards for safe driving Scheme of rewards/incentives for safe drivers need to be introduced for public transport drivers, commercial vehicle drivers and staff drivers to practice safe driving habits. For private bus crews, suitable incentives could be arranged through NGOs. 10.12 Road Safety Research Road Safety Research, accident analysis, data base and identification of accident prone locations and preparation of improvement schemes for accident black spots need to be carried out in a sustained manner. This task can be entrusted to specialized agencies in the state. 10.13 Implementation An Expert Committee may be constituted to go into the accident situation in the state and review the recommendations of various Commission of Enquiry and suggest suitable follow up action for implementation of road safety programme in the state.

11. Conclusion To prevent Road traffic deaths and injuries on roads in our country, we should consider and use sustainable safety programme of different countries as per our requirements which would bring down the number of accidents and fatalities on roads in future. The preventive measures brought through this report further direct us to control or bring down these percentages by using different new safety measures, infrastructural design fatalities and latest vehicle technology which would definitely reduce the existing figures of pre-crash and crash conditions in our country. Safety management is mainly confined to the regulation of traffic, pedestrian movement and crowd control. Whatever be the limitations in the road network and transport facilities, the traveling public is more concerned about their safe and comfortable route. To achieve this ultimate aim, there is a requirement for every traffic authority to keep abreast with the latest trends and techniques of traffic engineering and management.

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Road Accidents and Road Safety in India

REFERENCES

1. Alok Rawat (2005), Indian Journal of Transport Management, CIRT Publication Pune, (423-456) 2. Telson MTR Ashalatha & R Sathi Kumar (2003), Indian Journal of Transport Management, CIRT Publication Pune, (168-185) 3. Kadiyali L R (1994), Cost of Road Accidents in India, No: 10, Indian Highways, New Delhi 4. T Elangovan (2004), Kerala Calling, Thiruvananthapuram, (22-28) 5. Economic Review 2010, State Planning Board, Thiruvananthapuram, (289-307) 6. IJRIM Volume 1, Issue 5 (2011), (ISSN 2231-4334)\ 7. Ghee C., Silcock D., Astrop A., and Jacobs G. D. (1997), Socio economic aspects of road accidents in developing countries, TRL Report TRL247. Transport Research Laboratory, Crowthorne. 8. Patna Transportation Study (1990), Central Institute of Road Transport Publication 9. Sanjay Krishna & Ashish Mishra (2003), Road accident analysis of Patna city 10. Road accidents in India (2011), A Report by MoRTH.

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