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ACCIDENTS

become the unsafe country across the globe for road users. lines various policy measures such as promoting awareness,
In fact with this alarming figure, India is even way ahead of establishing road safety information data base, encouraging
China, which reported about 63,000 deaths during the whole safer road infrastructure including application of intelligent
2018. The United States of America accounted for about transport, enforcement of safety laws etc.
37,000 deaths on roads. The Geneva-based International Road
Federation (IRF) has found that India is table topper in terms of CHILDREN, YOUTH & POOR MOST HIT
road deaths across globe. Since 55 years, the International Road Federation statistics
Ninety-per cent of road traffic deaths occur in low-and continue to be the major comprehensive, universal source of
middle-income countries, and while these countries also statistical data on road networks, traffic and inland transport,
account for 82 per cent of the world’s population, they never- including traffic accidents. This year the World Road Statistics
theless bear a disproportionate number of deaths relative to (WRS) data features 205 countries. The report suggests that
their level of motorization, as they account for only 54 per cent road traffic injuries claim more than 1.3 million lives each year
of the world’s registered vehicles. While absolute numbers and have a huge impact on health and development.
of deaths are important in terms of seeing where road traffic They are the leading cause of death among young people
deaths are occurring and being able to target efforts to prevent aged between 15 and 29 years, and cost governments approxi-
them, a more useful indicator is to compare the risk of dying mately 3 per cent of GDP. With more than 1.3 million people die
as the result of a road traffic crash using rates per 100,000 each year on the world’s roads, making road traffic injuries a
population. leading cause of death globally. Most of these deaths are in low-
While the global rate for road traffic deaths is 17.4 per 100 and middle-income countries where rapid economic growth
000, there is great disparity by income, has been accompanied by increased
with rates more than twice as high in motorization and road traffic injuries. As
low- and middle-income countries than With more than 1.5 well as being a public health problem,
in the world’s high income countries. This million deaths last road traffic injuries are a development
report shows that 68 countries have seen issue: low- and middle-income countries
a rise in the number of road traffic deaths year, India has become lose approximately 3 per cent of GDP as a
since 2010, of which 84 per cent are low- the most unsafe result of road traffic crashes. Despite this
or middle-income countries. massive — and largely preventable — hu-
Almost half of all deaths on the world’s country in the world for man and economic toll, action to combat
roads are among those with the least road users. The country this global challenge has been insufficient.
protection — motorcyclists, cyclists and This report on road safety shows that
pedestrians. More attention must be given is even way ahead of low and middle-income countries are
to the needs of pedestrians and cyclists China, which reported hardest hit, with double the fatality rates
Making walking and cycling safer is criti- of high-income countries and 90 per cent
cal to reducing the number of road traffic about 63,000 deaths of global road traffic deaths. Vulnerable
deaths and is important for achieving the road users — pedestrians, cyclists and
Decade of Action for Road Safety’s aim to during 2018 motorcyclists — make up half of these
promote non motorized forms of trans- fatalities. Commendable national efforts
port. Similarly, motorcyclist safety must be prioritized too. have taken place against the backdrop of the Decade of Action
Globally, nearly a quarter of all road traffic deaths are among for Road Safety 2011–2020, a global framework guiding nation-
motorcyclists. The use of motorcycles is much higher in Asian al-level action across a number of areas relevant to road safety.
countries than elsewhere. In addition to the Decade of Action, international attention
Coming to different states in India, according to annual to the urgency of road safety has increased recently with the
report of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
in 2018, the top three were Uttar Pradesh (22,256), Maharash- Setting a goal of reducing road traffic deaths and injuries by
tra (13,261) and Tamil Nadu (12,216). The Union Ministry of 50 per cent by 2020, as part of this agenda is a reflection of
Road Transport and Highways has in its report has observed the growing recognition of the contribution of road safety to
that road safety is a complex issue of concern, considering its health, development and broader environmental objectives,
magnitude and gravity and the negative impacts on the and the potential for action.
economy, public health and the general welfare of the people, While a plateau in numbers is a welcome first step in the
particularly those with low income. fight to reduce road traffic deaths, it is insufficient. In the past
With rising motorization at 10 per cent compound growth three years there has been a 16 per cent increase in the number
every year and expanding road network, travel risks and traf- of vehicles on the world’s roads. Set against this inexorable rise,
fic exposure grow at a much faster rate and as such road traffic much more must be done to stop the death and destruction on
injuries are one of the leading causes of deaths, disabilities and the world’s roads and to achieve the ambitious target for road
hospitalizations, with severe socioeconomic costs. The Gov- safety set out in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
ernment has approved a National Road Safety Policy that out- The report highlights that across many measures, countries

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