| Let me give you a brief insight into Indian | | | | technologies, studies and experience. |
| roadways data, from 300,000 vehicles on a | | | | |
| road network of 400,000 kilometers in 1951, | | | | Another area which again contributes to large |
| the number of vehicles has gone up nearly a | | | | number of casualties is lack of life saving |
| 170 times till 2000, whereas the road network | | | | mechanisms like airbags, crash sensors and |
| has expanded by only nine times. | | | | crumple zones in Indian road traffic. These |
| | | | mechanisms have proved very successful in |
| Along with rapid increase in country's | | | | saving precious lives involved in road |
| population the vehicle population also rises | | | | accidents, in other parts of the world. Such |
| at an alarming rate. It has been estimated | | | | safety systems must be made mandatory for |
| that by 2050, there will be over 267 million | | | | vehicles in India to enhance Road Traffic |
| vehicles on Indian roads. Does India have the | | | | safety in India. |
| sufficient roads to accommodate so many | | | | |
| vehicles? Needless to say roads are becoming | | | | However, in a country like India which is |
| overcrowded and accidents are inevitable | | | | primarily ruled by bureaucrats implementing |
| under such conditions. Of the worldwide | | | | such projects and rules are easier said then |
| annual average of 700,000 road accidents, 10 | | | | done. What we need is an independent and |
| per cent occur in India. | | | | inviolable safety regulator vested with |
| | | | sufficient powers to mandate rules of Road |
| Its big time that Indian authorities should | | | | safety in India. All the stakeholders, the |
| begin to realize the importance of employing | | | | government, the insurance industry and the |
| more funds to build a well designed | | | | manufacturers must come together to provide |
| accident-proof transport system with | | | | necessary funds for creation of world-class |
| sufficient amount of road network. It is | | | | testing and research facilities to enhance |
| their prime duty to save precious human lives | | | | the standard of driving in India in all |
| by taking all possible measures and tools | | | | aspects. |
| available at their disposal - through | | | | |