India needs to end anarchy on Roads to make them better and safer: K J Alphons

New Delhi: India needs to end anarchy on roads including avoiding jumping of red lights, having safe pedestrian passages, cycle tracks, stop drunken driving and strict traffic enforcement, speed calming measures and having well-equipped trauma centres to make them better and safer.

“Country has developed huge road infrastructure but traffic crash deaths is a matter of deep concern . India having just One per cent of the global vehicles has the highest number of about five lakh road accidents with  1,5 lakh deaths,this accounts for 11% of the gobal road crash deaths. While country like Japan has about same number of road crashes but only 4674 deaths. The same is the case in most of developed countries. To reduce fatal road accidents we need better traffic sense and better road Infrastructure “ said Mr K J Alphons, a Member of Parliament and former Union minister of state for Tourism while inaugurating a seminar on ‘Safer roads, safer mobility’ organised by the India   chapter of the International Road Federation (IRF), the global road safety body working for better and safer roads world wide is holding a seminar on ‘Safer Roads, Safer Mobility’ along with Avery Dennison India here today

“For better and safe roads the infrastructure companies need to adopt newer and advanced technologies with automated enforcement and challaning through camera’s. The driving licence issuing should be fully automated and made tougher. The country also needs tough lane driving measures as most of fast lanes are taken over by heavy vehicles while fast-moving vehicles like cars have to overtake heavy vehicles from the left side resulting in accidents” said Mr Alphons.   

“India accounts for about 11 per cent of global road accident deaths and the country has set target of reducing road deaths by 50 % by the year 2025. Safe roads have major role to play in reducing the fatal accidents deaths . Worldwide road engineering is being improved by making zero accident roads. India has also taken the initiative as India chapter of the International Road Federation (IRF) as part of its initiative to reduce accidents  has chosen Seven worst affected highway stretches of 150-200 kms each in the 7 States with highest road accidents, namely, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Kerala and Karnataka.” Said Mr Satish Parakh, President. IRF, India Chapter

“The objective of the exercise is to transform these highway stretches, in association with the State Governments, into forgiving roads with almost zero fatalities and serious injuries. The transformation is intended through a series of corrective road safety management measures addressing the Es of road safety namely, Engineering, Education, Enforcement and Emergency Care.  On completion of the corrective actions, this will serve the validation purpose.” Said Mr Parakh.

“ World over 93 % road accident deaths take place in lower and middle-level countries, most of the casualties are of young, road engineering and learning has major role to play for achieving UN target of reducing fatal road accidents by 50% by the year 2030. A country like Sweden has already reached the vision Zero policy by improving road and vehicle engineering. India with the second largest road network in the world needs to develop safer road infrastructure and educate road traffic users and better traffic management  “ said Mr Peter Koomen  Business Director  (South Asia and ASEAN), Avery   Dennison, a road safety solution company.

“The other eminent speakers included, Rahul Bharti, Executive Director, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, Mr. V. K. Singh, ADG (Traffic), Rajasthan Police Department, Mr. Amandeep Singh, Business Head (South Asia and East Africa), Avery   Dennison and Ms. Parul Kumar, President, Prabhaav Learnings” said Mr Biju Muthu, CEO , IRF, India Chapter.

“Some of the subjects that were discussed at the seminar included safe corridor, is it a concept or a reality, Safe mobility are we doing enough. Some of the eminent speakers will include Mr Satish Parikh, President IRF, Mr Peter Koomen, Business Director, Avery Dennison, Prof. Sewa Ram, HoD, Transport Planning, School of Planning & Architecture, Mr. Mahabir Singh, Member (Technical), NHAI and  Mr. T. Krishna Prasad, Retd. DGP & Chairman Road Safety Authority.” Said Mr Biju Muthu, CEO, IRF.

Join PSU Connect on WhatsApp now for quick updates! Click here

Read Also : BEML Ltd Unveils India’s Biggest and Advanced Crawler Dozer