Issue of road safety in India and how to solve it

road safety in India

One of the most serious consequences of breaking traffic laws is that it jeopardizes the safety of other road users. According to data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH), over-speeding (66.5%), alcohol use, and inattentive driving account for a substantial share of fatal road disasters. How does this relate to India’s expanding motorisation? Since 2005, the number of road-related deaths per 1000 automobiles has practically decreased. This drop can be attributed to new traffic regulations, modifications in road infrastructure by road safety board suppliers in Maharashtra and design, law enforcement, and lower average speeds as a result of growing motorization and congestion.

According to data from the Bureau of Police Research and Development, traffic officers account for barely 3% of the overall police force (BPRD). In 2020, India had one traffic police officer for every 17,736 people and 2,920 automobiles. Road safety board suppliers in Maharashtra believe that this is the reason for the enhanced fines for traffic offenses which were established as part of the Motor Vehicles Act (2017). For example, the penalty for drunk driving has been raised from 2,000 to 10,000, while speeding now carries a 5,000 fine.

Existing research on road user behavior shows a number of elements that might explain why rules are frequently broken. According to the road safety board suppliers in Maharashtra, behavioral intentions are important in understanding road traffic violations. Other study based on this work reveals that what is thought to be ‘appropriate’ driving behavior also matters for these goals. These are referred to as social norms.

The Solution:

Regulations (especially new laws like the Motor Vehicles Act amendment) are only “ink on paper” and can only affect people’s behavior as much as they modify their views about what other people may or may not do. As a result, individuals rely on so-called “focal points,” or decisions that allow people to predict what others with similar cultural backgrounds would do.

Associated fines and attentive law enforcement must support these focused actions since they may not have the desired impact on their own. The evolution of norms in other countries can be used to guide policy in the Indian context. Community-based initiatives have had a substantial impact on transforming norms in developing countries such as Mali, Nigeria, and Nepal. 

Road safety board suppliers in Maharashtra recommend that ride-hailing businesses such as Ola and Uber can launch awareness efforts to support such factual interventions since they serve both public and commercial interests. Another spatial site of involvement may be at pub and bar valet services. Before consuming alcohol, providing information to clarify misperceptions about social norms and their infractions may influence later judgments concerning impaired driving, perhaps not immediately, but with repeated reminders. Another solution that has been tried and tested across the world is providing feedback to road users.

However, when making interventions, one must be mindful of India’s administrative and budgetary limits in enacting such changes in legislation.

The utilization of behavioral science units integrated inside municipal (or state) governments that plan, create, and implement interventions with the support of traffic police agencies might be advantageous in this area, explains the road safety board suppliers in Maharashtra.

About Us:
Bedrock is a reputable road safety board supplier in Maharashtra, providing precise traffic sign boards for a safe road. The expert team of specialists is excited about producing the greatest traffic sign boards of superior quality in accordance with government specifications. We are committed to manufacturing sign boards of various varieties as the finest provider of road safety boards in Mumbai.

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