Road safety in India: Challenges and opportunities

Abstract

The present report was designed to analyze the traffic safety situation in India, and to identify countermeasures for areas in which the total harm caused by crashes can be substantially and readily reduced. The report focuses on two aspects of traffic safety in India: challenges and opportunities. The first part of the report provides a comprehensive analysis of the current traffic safety situation in India. It is pointed out in this analysis that fatality rates have increased both on highways and in urban areas during the past few years. Theoretical models suggest that the number of fatalities in India is not likely to start to decline for many years to come unless new policies are implemented. Based on the present analysis, the following six areas are identified as having potential for substantially reducing fatalities in India: (1) pedestrians and other non-motorists in urban areas, (2) pedestrians, other non-motorists, and slow vehicles on highways, (3) motorcycles and small cars in urban areas, (4) over-involvement of trucks and buses, (5) nighttime driving, and (6) wrong-way drivers on divided highways. The second part of the report outlines several promising countermeasures for each of these six areas. The third part of the report presents a brief comparison of major traffic safety challenges in India and China.