Road Safety Initiatives

Ashutosh AtrayRoad Safety Consultant

Ace Driving & Road Safety Education Pvt Ltd.,

Navi Mumbai 400703Tel : 022 27822475, 9920276433

• Road safety is a major concern globally. With 1.2 Mn fatalities it requires major focus.

• India has poor track record as far as road safety is concerned with 1.3 lac fatalities & 5.5 lac grievous injuries in a year.

• Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra & UP lead with more than 12000 fatalities in a year.

• Rajasthan also record approx. 9000 fatalities in a year.

• The concern is growing….

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Ashutosh Atray/ ICRSV, Udaipur

Age Group (in years) Approx. Number (no in lacs)

% of drivers

Less than 25 73 22.67%

26 to 40 124 38.50%

41 to 55 87 27.02%

55 & above 38 11.81%

Total 322 100%

• Approx. 50% of the drivers are 35 years old or less. •Approx. 12.5 Lac young drivers are added every year on Indian roads•The rate of fatalities of young drivers in relatively higher than other drivers in India.

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For Example – Attitude of the Driver about Speed

Rebellious attitude “Me First” Syndrome Poor trip planning Right of road use Assumption of mistakes of other road user No knowledge of defensive driving Ignorance about vehicle maintenance &

roadworthiness

Driving at a faster speed. Lane cutting/ Changing lanes frequently Overtaking from wrong side Waiving/ yelling /showing displeasure

while driving. Not focusing on road while driving. Over confident/ Tentative

• Use of Mobile• Drunken Driving• Honking • Not wearing seat belts/ helmet

Disregarding the traffic rules & road signs

Breaks the rules or at least be a follower while braking the rules.

Believes in super natural power & luck

Willing to break rules at will but is unhappy when someone else does so.

Office Airport

Home Railway Station

Market Long Drive

Mall Friends

School/ College Shopping

Buy vegetables Ice Cream

Hotel & restaurants Business Meetings

Movies Long Drive

Business Associates Just Moving…

Office Airport

Home Railway Station

Minor Shopping Long Drive

Mall Friends or relatives

School/ College Shopping

Buy vegetables Ice Cream

Hotel & restaurants Off Site Meeting

Movies Long Drive

Business Associates Marriage & Party

About 70% of destinations are such where minor time difference will NOT make a difference.

Make the driving training mandatory in all the educational institutions. Defensive Driving curriculum should be part of syllabus for secondary education.

Start state of art driving academy. Impart defensive driving lessons at the time of

license renewal. Think differently to groom new drivers.

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• To work in the field of – Implementation of Road rules– Traffic management– Transportation/ traffic analysis – Research & development to minimise the road

crashes– Planning & commission of various projects

related to road development & safety – Development of road safety manual & various

publications various other related subjects. – Work as conduit for implementation of

standards for driving schools.

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Institute can offer various courses like certification/ diploma in Traffic management, Road safety audits & safe driving initiatives. There could be a huge requirements of such consultants in upcoming infrastructure projects & corporate sector. Even doctoral programs should be provided.

Diploma / Certification in Intelligent Transport Systems. The programs & courses should be supported by

Transport Department. Work with Driving schools to upgrade the driving skills

& road safety knowledge. Work on improving the driving attitude. This is in line with world wide driver’s development initiatives.

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Systematic approach to handle road safety on priority. Can channelize the resources effectively.

Creation of road safety professionals having huge requirements various infrastructure projects

Work as single point for all road safety programs & initiatives.

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Requirements:• Experienced faculty to handle the young

drivers effectively• Classrooms • Test Track with variable situations• Library having publications & driving

literature

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Must have a robust program with comprehensive classroom session with various mock scenarios.

Simulating the adverse situations to increase the anticipation levels

Develop a comprehensive curriculum for young drivers. Aspects which should be highlighted in the curriculum are:

– Attitude, Skill & Behavior to be a safe driver.– Vision & speed effects– Adverse conditions for driving & way to overcome

it.– Traffic regulations , Road Signs & Markings– Fatigue & Tiredness management

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– Night driving precautions– Monsoon driving– Highway driving & dangers – Various types of accidents & ways to avoid them– Anticipation & concentration– Right of way– Following rules & regulations while driving– Correct driving technique– Vehicle knowledge. Handling the controls effectively.

On the road & the effects of such driving mistakes should be highlighted to inculcate correct habits.

( supported by Presentation & AV)

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There are many aspects of on road assessment which we must explain. For example: – Correct use of indicators/ signals– Following the road signs & markings– Anticipation & Concentration– Synchronization – Vision movement – Parking & reversing– Road rage symptoms– Use of rear view mirrors– Speed w.r.t traffic, lane driving– Correct overtaking

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• All classes of drivers should be allowed for this program. 2W, Car, Heavy drivers ( after Obtaining Light Motor license) should be covered separately.

• The duration of the program should include minimum 40 Hrs of classroom & 20 Hrs of on road training in different conditions. If the performance is not satisfactory, the training schedule can be extended accordingly.

• The driving schools opting for these programs must be incentivized for providing the training.

• The driving school should be responsible for the on road performance of the applicant who has passed out.

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• Final written test ( to understand the knowledge about the road rules, regulations & other finer aspects) should be conducted by the institute in tandem with Transport Department

• Virtaul test on a computer with selection of questions on a random basis to avoid any malpractice/ cheating. The test should generate the certificate automatically.

• Performance of the candidate should be closely monitored. The deficiencies should be captured to identify the improvement areas.

• Unsuccessful participants should be asked to reappear the test in the specific areas where the score is not upto the mark.

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• The test conducted should be in camera observation. • A comprehensive format should be developed for on

road performance test.• The deficiencies observed should be tabled to

understand & evaluate the performance of the participant.

• If the performance is poor/ below the cut off , the participant should be asked to re appear in the on road class & later on in the test.

• Detailed modalities are available & can be worked out with mutual consultation.

• License should be issued by the competent authority only after the certificates of success in classroom & on road assessment is available.

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• The training cost for such program could be as high as Rs. 10000 per head, a part can be subsidized by levying fuel surcharge or insurance premium.

• The program require proper classrooms, suitable vehicles for on road test & most importantly quality instructors to run these programs.

• The program needs proper mentoring, follow up & data collation from the transport department.

• The driving training academy could be the focal point for developing such schools & grade their performance. ( a la coaching classes)

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• Young drivers will know the right driving technique at the formative stage & most importantly will help in developing right driving attitude

• The participant will value the training as they have actually toiled for mastering the driving technique.

• Help participant to understand some of the underrated topics like anticipation, 2 second rule, blind spots, M S M rule, knowledge, right of road use, identification of hazards & use of road signs & markings etc., which are generally overlooked currently.

• Knowledge of vehicle check, maintenance & roadworthiness are also understood during the program.

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Insurance premium can be linked to such training programs

A fund can be allocated to run & fund these schools which needs initial support.

If the granting of the license can be linked to performance of the participants in these schools, the on road performance should improve with every passing year.

Drivers for license renewal can also participate in the similar program.

The initiative to upgarde the driving skills is long over due & somewhere it has to be taken up from scratch.

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Fatality rate must reduce as the quality of driving has been

upgraded.

20/04/23 26Ashutosh Atray/ ICRSV, Udaipur

Documents

Road Safety Initiatives