India’s dangerous roads

The Prime Minister’s idea of coming to the quick aid of road accident victims in the blue hour and the proposal to provide them cashless hospital treatment at least for the first few critical days are concepts that should have been considered much sooner. There is a chilling dimension to Indian roads since they take the biggest human toll in the world when computed in terms of vehicle density, suggesting not only mayhem on the roads but also possibly criminal intent in overly aggressive driving patterns.

To take care of victims in the first hour is most important. What we need are very efficient ambulance services and minimally intrusive paperwork at the stage of hospital admission. A country that lost 1.41 lakh people in road accidents in 2014, including about 20 children every day, translating to a death every four minutes and a toll of life greater than in all the wars of independent India put together — needs to instil far greater conscientiousness in tending to victims of road accidents.

While a modern Road Transport and Safety Bill might help lay down the law clearly, what is needed is stringent policing in cities where a phenomenal proportion of an average of 1,214 road crashes a day occurs, besides very early education in proper road use so that at least the emerging generations are better road users than the notorious ones who have contributed to India being the most dangerous place to be on the road. A general insurance scheme for all road users in the form of personal accident policies on minimal premiums must be floated as a social security net.