Paper: GS – II, Subject: Governance, Topic: Government Policies, Issue: India’s Road Safety System.
Context:
India’s roads remain among the deadliest in the world. Despite growing infrastructure and vehicle modernization, over 1.7 lakh lives were lost to road crashes in 2023 alone roughly 450 deaths every day.
Key Takeaways:
Problems in Licensing:
- Licensing as a Mere Formality: The licensing system, intended to filter out unfit drivers, often operates as a simple administrative procedure.
- Lack of Formal Training: Many individuals obtain driving licenses without undergoing proper training.
- Perfunctory Driving Tests: Driving tests are often superficial, involving basic maneuvers on small tracks, failing to assess real-world driving skills.
- Absence of Standardized Training for Commercial Drivers: There is a lack of structured and standardized safety training for commercial drivers, who operate heavy vehicles carrying significant loads and passengers.
Role of Enforcement:
- Top Causes of Crashes: Speeding, overloading, lane violations, and driving under the influence are major contributors to fatal crashes.
- Limited Technology Adoption: Even where technology like automated cameras and digital challan systems exists, coverage is limited, data integration is weak, and penalties are often not recovered.
- Need for Electronic Enforcement: The Supreme Court has emphasized the need for electronic enforcement standards and technology-based deterrence, but adoption remains inconsistent across states.
Weak Infrastructure and Trauma Care:
India’s road safety crisis reflects governance failure, driven by poor training, weak enforcement, unsafe roads, and inadequate trauma care. A coordinated, accountable systems approach is essential to prevent rising fatalities.
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