Satyamev Jayate Season 3 Episode 2: Why India has the highest number of deaths due to road traffic accidents

By: Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | | Published: October 13, 2014 6:43 pm

According to the 2013 statistical report by the World Health Organization, road accidents rank ninth among the top 10 leading causes of death worldwide. While in India, road traffic injuries are the sixth leading cause of death, mainly affecting the young and middle-aged population. More than 1.3 million people die in road accidents every year and approximately 50 million people suffer from severe injuries. In addition to this, road accidents also put a huge burden on the healthcare sector in terms of hospitalization and rehabilitation. Also Read - Ganesh Chaturthi 2020: 4 reasons an eco-friendly Ganesha is good for you

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The 2013 global status report on road safety revealed that more than 2,31,000 people die in road accidents every year in India. Furthermore, approximately 50% of all deaths are of vulnerable road users namely pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists. Of the many reasons that contribute to the high rate of fatality on roads, here are some of the most common ones Also Read - 11 things you must do when there is a road accident

Sharing the limited road space: A heterogeneous mix of traffic on Indian roads that comprises of high-speed vehicles and vulnerable road users share the road space, which increases the risk of road accidents.
Poor road infrastructure: It is a known fact that with pits and potholes on the roads it is difficult to maintain balance on a vehicle, especially a two-wheeler. This coupled with ill planned roads and poor condition of the roads, especially in high traffic regions puts road safety in danger.
Improperly maintained vehicles: One of the key reasons for increased cases of road accidents in major metropolitan cities is attributed to poorly maintained vehicles or scrap machines plying on roads. Accidents caused in this way can be prevented by timely checking (PUC) and testing (license, etc) of the vehicles by the RTO.
Unsafe driving: Distracted driving that includes texting or talking on mobile phones, driving when drunk or speeding are common factors that increase the risk of accidents.

In addition to following tips to drive safely, officials should impose strict laws and regulations to address the top five risk factors of road deaths namely drunk-driving, speed control, use of helmets, restraining teenagers from driving and use of seat-belts. Apart from these, policies on safety and injury prevention with better and quick healthcare facilities are need of the hour to lower the death rate caused duet o road accidents. With active commitment from health professionals, officials and local public, road accidents can be lowered by a significant margin in the coming years.

Image Source: Getty Images

Published : October 13, 2014 6:43 pm

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