Road safety is a major concern today as road accidents kill more than 1. 2 million people and between 20 and 50 million suffer serious injuries worldwide every year. This situation is getting worse day by day. A report entitled “Global status report on road safety” predicts that road traffic injuries will rise to become the fifth leading cause of death by 2030. Road safety means to safely drive on road to ensure that there is no harm or the driver of vehicle do not cause any harm to any other vehicle moving near by it.
In other words we can say that road traffic safety means to reduce accident causes on road for proper driving Many victims are the primary provider of household income and, when injured or killed, their families are left without economic support. In addition, those who survive often need immediate hospital care and many require long-term support. Hurdles in Road Safety There are many hurdles in the path to implement Road Safety safely as listed below:
• Negligence:: The main hurdle in road safety measures is negligence of people.
They do not follow the traffic rules. We find people jumping traffic lights, driving while drunk, driving recklessly at super sonic speeds, not wearing seat belts and helmets etc.
• Unsafe Vehicle Design: Vehicles designed for Indian roads are not up to the International Standards. Safety norms are not even close to international level. Even if some luxury cars have them, they run the pockets dry. There is a need to look for viable solution in this respect.
• Lack of Laws : No Proper laws have been devised and those devised are not meant and dealt properly.
Just drive as you like and if you happen to kill someone, just grease a few palms and walk into the sunset. Such is the height of corruption in India.
• Lack of Emergency Services: Roads lack any facility for emergency services. In case of an accident there is no provision for first aid treatment near the intersections. Victims have to cost their lives as doctors and hospitals are usually not nearby. Road Safety Initiatives Roads and vehicles are integral part of our daily life. Either as a driver, a passenger, or as a pedestrian, we all must follow the traffic rules and also make it habit.
We must talk about the importance of wearing seat belts and insist that everyone in the vehicle wears appropriate restraints. We should always demonstrate responsible and safe behaviours when driving, or when a passenger and while walking anywhere around vehicles and roads. Along with the benefits of road use, there are also challenges that we need to be aware of. Important Schemes administered by Road Safety are: 1. Publicity Programs 2. Grants-in-aid to Voluntary Organizations for organizing road safety programs 3. National Highway Accident Relief Service Scheme . Refresher Training to Heavy Vehicle Drivers in Unorganized Sector 5. Setting up of Model Driving Training school Road Safety Tips 1. Don’t use your mobile phone whilst driving 2. Belt up in the back 3. Don’t drink and drive 4. Always adhere to speed limits 5. Steer clear of erratic drivers. Let a tailgater pass you. 6. Keep your eyes on the road. Talking on a cell phone or reading a map can distract you and lead to an accident. Keep in mind that a distracted driver might also be near you. Drive cautiously. 7. Be alert near parked cars.
Someone could open a car door or pull out in front of you. 8. Don’t drive sleep-deprived. Sleep is not a matter of willpower, but a biological need. If you become drowsy, pull off the road and get some rest. 9. When passing another car, get past the driver’s blind spot as quickly and safely as possible. 10. Keep your distances. 1. 2 million die in road accidents each year. A child is killed in an accident every three minutes. Road safety is increasingly becoming a major killer and a worldwide concern, particularly for young people. What can we do to address the issue?
Media Management: The media has been a largely overlooked factor in creating road safety awareness. Celebrity endorsements, coupled with television messages on prime-time slots and peer education programmes would provide an accessible and engaging means of promoting awareness, particularly among young people. They would convey the message that safe driving is “cool” driving, and constantly reinforce that drunken driving, using a cell phone on the road and driving without a seatbelt (or helmet) are not only dangerous, but “seriously unfashionable. Celebrities could also actively encourage walking or cycling whenever and wherever possible. situations, movies and field trips could be used as effective learning tools for children at school. Safe Road User awards at the school level would provide an incentive for many children to follow road safety rules. Road safety education programmes can also be extended to adults at the workplace, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. This would hold particular importance for parents, and efforts must be made to involve them as much as possible.
Legislation and policies: There is a need for stricter licensing laws, particularly with regard to public transport operators. Laws could require prominent display of the driver’s license on his/her vehicle while driving, in addition to safety regulations (such as adequate maintenance and the use of the seatbelt) and random breath testing policies. Policies could provide for the creation of better roads and pavements, supervised playing areas for children and monitored crossings near schools.
Global Road Deaths and Injuries.. (2019, Jun 20). Retrieved from https://paperap.com/paper-on-essay-raod-safety/