GS Paper I

News Excerpt:

Despite fall in death numbers due to road fatalities across the Globe, in India road crashes are the top cause of deaths for children and youth between the ages of 5 to 29 years.

About the Global status report on road safety 2023:

• This report details the scale of global road traffic deaths, and progress in advancing laws, strategies and actions to reduce them around the world. 
• The fifth report in a series, it provides an overview of progress between 2010 and 2021, and sets a baseline for the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 target of halving road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030.

Who is at risk?

• Socioeconomic status: More than 90% of road traffic deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Road traffic death rates are highest in the WHO African Region and lowest in the European Region. Even within high-income countries, people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to be involved in road traffic crashes.
• Age: Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5–29 years. Two thirds of road traffic fatalities occur among people of working age (18–59 years),
• Sex: Males are typically 3 times more likely to be killed in road crashes than females.

What are the causes highlighted by the WHO Report?

• Speeding: An increase in average speed is directly related both to the likelihood of a crash occurring and to the severity of the consequences of the crash. For example, every 1% increase in mean speed produces a 4% increase in the fatal crash risk and a 3% increase in the serious crash risk.
  • The risk of death for pedestrians hit by car fronts rises rapidly (4.5 times from 50 km/h to 65 km/h).
  • In car-to-car side impacts the fatality risk for car occupants is 85% at 65 km/h.
• Driving under the influence of alcohol and other psychoactive substances:  In the case of drug-driving, the risk of incurring a road traffic crash is increased to differing degrees depending on the psychoactive drug used. For example, the risk of a fatal crash occurring among those who have used amphetamines is about 5 times the risk of someone who hasn't.

• Non-use of motorcycle helmets, seat-belts and child restraints: Correct helmet use can reduce the risk of death in a crash by more than 6 times and the risk of brain injury by up to 74%.

• Wearing a seat-belt can reduce the risk of death among vehicle occupants by up to 50%.
• The use of child restraints can lead to a 71% reduction in deaths among infants.
• Distracted driving: There are many types of distractions that can lead to impaired driving. The distraction caused by mobile phones is a growing concern for road safety.
• Drivers using mobile phones are approximately 4 times more likely to be involved in a crash than drivers not using a mobile phone. 
• Unsafe road infrastructure: The design of roads can have a considerable impact on their safety. Ideally, roads should be designed keeping in mind the safety of all road users. 
• Measures such as footpaths, cycling lanes, safe crossing points and other traffic calming measures can be critical to reducing the risk of injury among these road users.  
• Unsafe vehicles: Safe vehicles play a critical role in averting crashes and reducing the likelihood of serious injury. There are a number of UN regulations on vehicle safety that, if applied to countries’ manufacturing and production standards, would potentially save many lives. 
• These include requiring vehicle manufacturers to meet front and side impact regulations, to include electronic stability control (to prevent over-steering) and to ensure airbags and seat-belts are fitted in all vehicles. 
• Inadequate post-crash care: Delays in detecting and providing care for those involved in a road traffic crash increase the severity of injuries. 
• Care of injuries after a crash has occurred is extremely time-sensitive: delays of minutes can make the difference between life and death. 
• Improving post-crash care requires ensuring access to timely pre-hospital care, and improving the quality of both pre-hospital and hospital care, such as through specialist training programmes.  
• Inadequate law enforcement of traffic laws: If traffic laws on drink-driving, seat-belt wearing, speed limits, helmets and child restraints are not enforced, they cannot bring about the expected reduction in road traffic fatalities and injuries related to specific behaviors.
• Thus, if traffic laws are not enforced or are perceived as not being enforced, it is likely they will not be complied with and therefore will have very little chance of influencing behavior.

Way forward: 

• Need for Prevention Measures: Road traffic injuries can be prevented. Governments must take action to address road safety in a holistic manner. 
• This requires involvement from multiple sectors such as transport, police, health and education, as well as the private sector and civil society organizations. It requires actions that address the safety of roads, vehicles and all road users.
• Effective interventions include designing safer infrastructure and incorporating road safety features into land-use and transport planning, improving the safety features of vehicles; enhancing post-crash care for victims of road traffic crashes; setting and enforcing laws relating to key risks, and raising public awareness.
• The safe system approach -Accommodating Human error: Transport systems should be responsive to the needs of users and forgiving of human error. The safe system approach to road safety aims to ensure a safe transport system for all road users. 
• This approach takes into account people’s vulnerability to serious injuries and recognizes that the system should be designed to accommodate human error. 
• The cornerstones of this approach are safe roads and roadsides, safe speeds, safe vehicles, and safe road users, all of which must be addressed in order to eliminate fatal crashes and reduce serious injuries.
• Need for efficient Enforcement: Effective enforcement includes establishing, regularly updating, and enforcing laws at the national, municipal, and local levels that address the above mentioned risk factors. It also includes the definition of appropriate penalties.

Mains PYQ

Q. “Investment in infrastructure is essential for more rapid and inclusive economic growth.” Discuss in the light of India’s experience (UPSC 2021)

Q. What is the significance of Industrial Corridors in India? Identifying industrial corridors, explain their main characteristics. (UPSC 2018)