ROAD SAFETY – BACKGROUND

Road Safety refers to the safe and smooth commuting of all road users without them coming into conflict and endangering their lives. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), road accidents is the ninth leading cause of death all over the world and is expected to become the fifth by 2030. Road accidents are the biggest cause of unnatural deaths in the world.

It is difficult to ascertain the economic and social costs involving accidents, but taking some parameters in account, the economic costs have been estimated between 1-3% of the GNP (Gross National Product) of the country. To reduce these losses and save precious lives, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway (MoRTH) formulated a road safety policy with recommendations from the Sundar Committee in 2005. Tamil Nadu – the most accident prone state – adopted the policy in April 2007.

India has accounted for the highest number of accidents and fatalities in the world, and about 13 people die every hour due to road accidents in this country. In 2010, Chennai and its suburbs reported the second highest number (Delhi being the highest) of fatalities amongst all urban centres. Although the fatalities in the city have stabilized, the figures in the suburbs continue to rise and the number of accidents are still very high. Pedestrians and non-motorised transport (NMT) are the most vulnerable of all road users and have accounted for over 43% of all fatalities in the city in 2010. This alarming number of accidents could be attributed to lack of proper infrastructure for all road users, inadequate enforcement of traffic regulations and reckless driving by the motorists.

Analysis of the total number of accidents from 2006-2010 shows that 23 arterial roads in Chennai city account for 47% of the total reported accidents. The Inner Ring Road, Poonamallee High Road and Anna Salai account for 18% of the total road accidents reported in the city. These roads are being maintained by the City Road Division of the Highways Department and are the widest roads in the city.

Under the Road Safety Policy, the state formulated a Road Safety Committee in every district and in cities. In Chennai, the commissioner of police is the chairman of this committee. As per the policy note, the target is to reduce the number of accidents by 20% by 2013 – keeping the reported number of accidents in 2006 as a base.

A road safety fund was constituted under the Home Department in July, 2000 and is being administered by the inter- departmental committee on Road Safety fund headed by the Home Secretary. These funds are allocated to the District Collectors and other user departments and have risen from Rs 2 crore in 2000-01 to 40 crore in 2010-11 for the state.