Deaths and injuries from road accidents are a major and growing public health epidemic. Around 1.54 lakh people were killed in road crashes across the country in 2019 alone.
To prevent road accidents, India needs a collective effort by all stakeholders—Central, state and municipal governments, NGOs, corporate citizens and individuals—which can help develop the foundation of road safety in our country. Our aim is to reduce the burden of death and serious injuries, so as to meet our commitment to reduce fatalities by 50 per cent by 2030.
Significant improvements in road safety can only be achieved if we address road design, compliance of traffic rules, vehicle design and quality of drivers. Forming multi-stakeholder partnerships is essential not just for improving road infrastructure but also for educating and building awareness among drivers, riders and pedestrians.
Sixteen per cent of accident related fatalities in 2019 were linked to light motor vehicles. As road safety rests significantly on the shoulders of the drivers, increasing the capacity of commercial drivers through relevant training and workshops is a great initiative that should continue.
By being an attentive driver, you can preserve your life, the lives of fellow passengers, and all pedestrians and drivers who interact with you on the streets.
I call upon the citizens to follow the newly amended Motor Vehicles Act and the Motor Vehicles Driving Regulations.
I appreciate that private ride-sharing companies like Uber are undertaking initiatives like eye checkups of drivers and raising public awareness. This is a great step.
I wish the road safety awareness campaign of THE WEEK all success. May it help in generating more awareness among people and sensitising them about road safety rules.
The writer is Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways.