Report On Road Safety - FICCI
Report On Road Safety - FICCI
safety
A step towards making
India accident free
Contents
Foreword: FICCI 03
Foreword: Grant Thornton Bharat 04
Road safety in India: An overview 05
Measures taken on national road safety 11
Challenges and opportunities 12
Leading case studies on 13
road safety in India
Conclusion 23
Road safety is the way of prevention and protection from road losing their well-trained employees and team members from
accidents. It is estimated that road accidents cost India about its supplier and customer ecosystem to road accidents. Hence,
3-5% of its gross domestic product (GDP) every year. India corporates at large scale are keen on contributing towards
already loses a city’s worth of population every year due to reducing road crashes in the country, as goes the saying,
road crashes, as per official data from the Ministry of Road ‘charity begins at home.’
Transport and Highways of India (MoRTH).
Introducing stronger policies and practices not only improves
Millions of us use roads every day and 415 people don’t the safety of employees who drive for work, but also improves
get back home. Think about those families. Road safety is the safety of other road users. The costs and benefits of
emerging as a major concern in the country for sustainable improving work-related road safety will vary from company to
transportation on highways and cities. With the evolution of the company but will play a potentially vital support role for efforts
motorised vehicles, with increasing speed limits and improving within the wider community towards road safety.
roads all over the world, the boon of road transport is turning
into a major killer of mankind. Without appropriate strategies This report will help corporates in learning from the experiences
to reduce road accidents and deaths, it is becoming a serious of other companies in mitigating occupational road risks and
worldwide crisis. in possible adoption of some of them to increase efficiency of
businesses. It also outlines the present situation in the country
As per the data released by the National Crime Records and robust policies and practices contributing towards safer
Bureau, India recorded approximately 1,33,201 deaths1 (due to roads in other countries. I hope that this report will offer
road accidents) in 2020, with millions more sustaining serious important and useful insights to all stakeholders.
injuries and living with long-term adverse health consequences.
Globally, road traffic crashes are a leading cause of death
among young people, and the main cause of death among
those aged 15–29 years. Ramashankar Pandey
Chair
The working age group of 18–60 years accounted for a FICCI Road Safety Committee
share of 84.3% in the total road accident deaths. This data is
worrisome for corporates as they are at a continuous risk of
At present, the road network is responsible for transporting The road safety ecosystem can benefit from proactive
64.5% of goods within the country, making it vital for our engagement by all stakeholders, investments in technology
economic health. With more than 90% of India’s total and collaboration with the private sector. This will help in
passenger traffic using roads to commute, road safety must be implementing positive changes at the grassroots level, and
treated with the highest importance. enabling a pragmatic approach towards reducing road
accident fatalities in India.
However, with India constituting about 11% of global
deaths in road accidents, it can be discerned that efforts
towards ensuring road safety could be improved on all
fronts: education, enforcement, engineering (of roads and Saket Mehra
infrastructure) and emergency care of accident victims. Partner and Auto Sector Leader
Grant Thornton Bharat
The Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill is expected to improve safety on three dimensions
Infrastructure
planners
Agencies, contractors and
consultants to design and/
or maintain safe roads
According to data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), India recorded approximately 1,33,201 deaths (due
to road accidents) in 2020, and around 37 deaths per 100 crashes.
In 2020, the highest number of road accidents were reported in Tamil Nadu (45,000), followed by Madhya Pradesh (42,000).
3,54,796
Road accidents recorded in
2020 (in India)
1,33,201
Deaths caused by accidents
3,35,201
Casualties caused
35%
3,74,397 Percentage of
accidental deaths
Accidental deaths
recorded in 2020 caused by road
accidents
60% 24.3%
Deaths 75,333 Deaths 35,219
Casualties 2,09,736 Casualties 77,067
2.4% 13.3%
• Tamil Nadu and Karnataka witnessed the highest number of deaths due to speeding, accounting for 12.7% and 9.7%,
respectively.
• Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi witnessed the lowest number of deaths in accidents involving speeding.
• Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand witnessed the lowest number of accidents involving speeding.
• Within careless driving, approximately 29,000 accidents happened due to driving on the wrong side of the road. Uttar
Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh accounted for the highest number of accidents at 4,835 and 4,024, respectively.
• Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Telangana witnessed the lowest number of accidents, involving driving on the wrong
side of the road.
• Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of accidents (3,336) caused by driving under influence, whereas Jammu and
Kashmir and West Bengal recorded the lowest number of accidents due to the same.
• The worst five states for deaths where seatbelts and helmets were not used by either of the parties involved in accidents
were Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.
• There is a lack of awareness regarding road safety and measures to ensure road safety among the rural population of the
country.
• Along with an increased awareness, improved road and transportation system is imperative to reduce accident cases in the
rural areas.
• Two-wheelers are one of the most popular means of transportation in India and
account for the highest number of road accidents.
• The reasons for two-wheeler accidents include poor roads, unsafe (or no)
helmets and lack of awareness.
• According to the World Health Organisation (WHO)[8], using helmets could
reduce the risk of fatal injuries by 42% and head injuries by 69%.
Countries with the lowest death rate (due to road accidents) per 100,000 population
Switzerland
3.3
Kiribati
2.9
United Kingdom
2.9
Sweden
2.8
Federated States of Micronesia
1.9
Countries with the highest death rate (due to road accidents) per 100,000 population
Schemes
• National Highway Accident Relief Scheme to provide funds for immediate needs of accident
victims[13]
• Collaboration with agencies such as World Bank and Asian Development Bank
• Grants-in aid to non-government organisations (NGOs) for organising road safety
programmes
Steps taken
• National Highway Development Programme to upgrade, rehabilitate and widen major
highways
• Initiatives by the Road Safety Cell, such as publicity programmes to raise awareness, provide
financial assitance to NGOs, etc.
• Initiatives, such as Road Safety Culture Initiative, by the police department
• National Road Safety Week 2022 with a theme ‘Sadak Suraksha, Jeevan Raksha’
Industry sector
Educational institution
Road safety initiative
Share the roads and be road safe
Award category and description: Innovative educational • Organising road safety week for students, where they
programme in road safety - For the institutions that have discussed real road issues, and engaging students during the
implemented programmes to raise awareness in road safety National Road Safety Month through activities and events.
via medium of creative road safety campaigns for the • Conducting workshops for drivers, teachers, and students
younger generation. (with their parents) provide them with adequate information
and support to the club and introduce best practices in
school.
Industry sector
Higher educational institution
Road safety initiative
Road safety initiative, National Service Scheme (NSS)
Award category and description: Road safety intervention trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other
by higher education institutes - For higher education institutes first-aid procedures), webinars on making cities safer by
that have taken exemplary initiatives in road safety. The design, safe India ideathon and parents report card (students
initiatives include educating and spreading awareness to had to fill a questionnaire asking whether their parents
students, faculty members and staff on the road safety and followed safety instructions).
implementing operational changes to ensure the safety of
students as well as staff on the road.
Key benefits
• Spreading awareness towards the problem of road safety
Initiative overview • Parents report card helped the students push their parents
towards following safety rules
In 2019-2020, NSS-IIT Roorkee organised multiple events to • Encouraging students to think outside the box and discuss
increase awareness about road safety during the 31st National new solutions to improve road safety on the table
Road Safety Week, celebrated from 11 January 2020 till 17 • The pothole study helped in repairing potholes around the
January 2020. campus
• First responder training workshops helped students learn
The week-long campaign saw initiatives, such as street plays, how to react in an emergency and trained them to be
hanging posters resembling traffic signs on trees, walkathon careful and avoid chances of mishap on roads
and pledge for road safety, traffic sign study lecture, pothole • The projects, which the college plans to implement will
study (to provide technical knowledge for a reliable solution ensure improved connectivity between villages and the
National Highways and designing significant intersections
to potholes, followed by demonstrations around the campus),
around the campus to reduce accidents and vehicular
first responder training workshop (where participants were
speed to a safe limit.
Industry sector
Transportation and logistics
Road safety initiative
Transport safety management system
Industry sector
Not-for-profit organisation
Road safety initiative
Road safety awareness initiatives
Lubnath Shah Memorial Charitable Trust was started in details, fire and rescue services, SOS alerts to emergency
memory of Late Lubnath Shah in 2004 by a group of close contacts, etc.
friends. The trust specially focuses on social activities to reduce • The trust is in talks with the district authorities and police
road accidents and ensure immediate medical aid in case departments to impose heavy fines on traffic offenders and
of emergencies. install speed detection devices in buses
Industry sector
Auto and auto-components
Road safety initiative
Road safety activities by AL Driver Training
Institutes (DTI)
Award category and description: Road safety intervention • Free health and eye check-up camp and vision camp at DTI
by corporates- For the organisations engaged in highway for the driver community
engineering improvement, improved road signage and layout • Seat belt and helmet awareness camp
and innovative traffic management schemes, which raise the • Free pollution check-up camp
inherent safety and protective quality of road networks for the • Road safety awareness sticker pasting campaign
• Bike rally with Regional Transport Authority (RTA) officials
benefit of all road users.
and traffic police
• Street play on road safety by DTI students, etc.
Initiative overview
Various road safety awareness programs were conducted by Key benefits
their 12 driver training institutes every year with the objective of
• Inculcating good traffic discipline amongst drivers to
spreading the awareness about road safety amongst the road
improve road safety
users. In FY20-21, over 23,000 drivers benefitted through this
• Promotion of the message of holistic approach towards
programme. Various initiatives conducted are listed below:
health and general well-being of the drivers and instilling
• Road safety programme for students, truck, bus, taxi and the message that good driving practices have a positive
auto drivers and truck associations impact on the life and performance of the vehicle
• Blood donation camp
Industry sector
Engineering and technology
Road safety initiative
Accident research in India
Award category and description: Outstanding commitment benefit estimation studies through accident data,
in road safety by corporates- For organisations that have taken representativeness of the data for PAN-India.
exceptional initiatives in road safety as a part of their corporate • Benefit estimation studies through accident data:
social responsibility. motorcycle antilock braking system, passenger car antilock
braking system, electronic stability control ESP, airbags,
Passive restraint systems, NCAP and crash tests
Industry sector
Auto and auto-components
Road safety initiative
Safe road, safe life
Industry sector
Electrical equipment and component manufacturing
Road safety initiative
Speed enforcement system: Ador Harmony
Award category and description: Product and services in • Public perception of the system
road safety by corporates - For organisations, development • The latency of the system and how soon drivers know they
and/or implementation of innovative product or services and have been caught over speeding
processes, in response to customer needs, emerge as more
effective and efficient solution to road safety.
Key benefits
• High speed capture: Vehicle detection is performed via
Initiative overview high performance radar.
• Image quality: A key output from the system is the digital
This initiative taken up by Ador Harmony ensures an effective image evidence.
speed enforcement system. The underlying principle of its • Image element -data bar: Each image comes with a data
effectiveness is related to its deterrent factor. The deterrent bar at the top containing information about the vehicle
factor (ability of system presence to reduce speeding capture and the deployment.
behaviour), is related to several factors of the system and • Simultaneous offence capture: Simultaneous monitoring
enforcement program such as: of traffic across at least four lanes. If two vehicles offend at
• The likelihood that the system will detect an offending driver the same time, both vehicles are captured.
• Public awareness of the system
Industry sector
Educational institution
Road safety initiative
Road safety programmes: School road safety
programmes in collaboration with Synergie, ATL
ideation and curriculum integration
Roads can be an immense contributor to the growth of an economy, but their safety can be ensured if the government (along
with other stakeholders) undertake Accident Prevention and Control basis the 4E’s:
i) Education
ii) Enforcement
iii) Engineering
iv) Environment and emergency care of road accident victims
To enable a pragmatic approach towards reducing road accident fatalities in India, the state and centre will have to join hands
and strengthen the road safety ecosystem at the grassroot level.
Sources
[1] NCRB
[2] IBEF
[3] Highest Deaths in India
[4] ET Auto
[5] Government of India, Road Safety
[6] ET Auto
[7] Hindustan Times
[8] Two-Wheeler Accident Data
[9] Global status report on road safety 2018 (who.int)
[10] Spain reduced traffic fatalities by 80%
[11] Road Safety Policy in India
[12] Improvement in Road Safety Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill
[13] National Highway Accident Relief Service Scheme
[14] Road Safety Initiatives
Established in 1927, FICCI is the largest and oldest apex business organisation in India. Its history is closely interwoven with
India’s struggle for independence, its industrialisation, and its emergence as one of the most rapidly growing global economies.
A non-government, not-for-profit organisation, FICCI is the voice of India’s business and industry. From influencing policy to
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serves its members from the Indian private and public corporate sectors and multinational companies, drawing its strength
from diverse regional chambers of commerce and industry across states, reaching out to over 2,50,000 companies.
FICCI provides a platform for networking and consensus building within and across sectors and is the first port of call for Indian
industry, policy makers and the international business community.
Contact us:
Sumeet Gupta
Assistant Secretary General, FICCI
E: [email protected]
Aastha Gupta
Assistant Director, FICCI
E: [email protected]
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