Safety measures for Controlling Road Accident …...1 Safety measures for Controlling Road Accident Injuries and Fatality Manisha Minesh Desai. ME student, Transportation engg. Civil

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Safety measures for Controlling Road Accident

Injuries and Fatality

Manisha Minesh Desai.ME student, Transportation engg. Civil Engg Dept.

L.D. College of engg. Aahmedabad-15,Gujarat,India..Email:[email protected]

Guide: Prof.A.K.PatelLecturer in civil engineering, Government polytechnic,

Ahmedabad-15, Gujarat, India.Email:[email protected]

Abstract: Road transport is the backbone of modern society and economy. We all are dependent on road transport. It is difficult to imagine life without it. Tremendous growth of both road network & road traffic in India brought the problem of road accidents resulting in injury and fatalities to road users. India was number 9 killer in the year 1990 in the world is expected to emerge number 3 killer by year 2020 in road accident. Althoughroad transport safety is a worldwide problem but it is more severe in India. India needs to improve road safety measures toreduce road accidents.

I. INTRODUCTION

Transportation network is a heart of a nation and transport services are considered as growth engine of economy. More the lengths of roads, more the prosperity of the nation. The prosperity brigades of a nation normally comprise of intelligentsia, hard labor, infrastructures available and lastly smooth functioning of its roads. However, with the positive qualities, the by-product of transportation is pollution and accidents. As per data registered by the World Health organization, nearly 12 lakhs people are known to die each year in road accidents globally out of which more than 83,000 people are killed in India while roughly 5 times of this number (about 4 lakhs) are seriously injured in India. It means, we kill about 230 people and injure about 1100 every day on Indian roads. Out of this, about 25-30% are pedestrians, 15-20% children under 15 years of age. In India, the total cost of losses due to road accidents are in the range of Rs. 400- 500 crores a day. The estimated cost includes compensation, asset loss, time and energy spent on police, hospital and court cases etc[1]. But we can not measure these sufferings in terms of money. The loss to the nation due to the ever-increasing accidents is untold, eating into the economics of the nation.

Road safety has become a major concern for the regulatory authorities in India today. Indian road safety situation is ten times worse when compared to the developed countries of the world, which leaves much to be done in the field of Road Safety Management. Road safety is defined as

the absence of crashes, injuries and fatalities. The term "safety" implies that there are no occurrences of accidents. Although undesirable, crashes and fatalities are inevitable incidents of the transportation system. The road transportation is cursed with road accidents. A substantial accident risk is always present in the development of transport facilities. Road crashes are a growing worldwide problem. The road systems all over the world are getting more and more congested and unsafe day by day. Road Traffic Accident (RTA) is normally defined as "accident which takes place on the road between two or more objects, one of which must be any kind of a moving vehicle." Road traffic accidents can be called as perennial disaster, as they have claimed far more lives than any of the natural disasters. "Accidents are not natural but they are caused," is a common saying in the area of traffic safety. Road safety status is the reflection of traffic culture and it is extremely poor in India.

II. INDIAN SCENERIO OF ROAD ACCIDENT

Road accidents statistics of India is given in Table-1 in Annexure.

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Fig-1.1 Road Accident statistics in India.

National Conference on Recent Trends in Engineering & Technology

13-14 May 2011 B.V.M. Engineering College, V.V.Nagar,Gujarat,India

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From data graph is developed which shows increasing trend of road accidents. Every hour, 13 people die due to road accidents, the highest in the world. Every 10th person who dies in road accidents is an Indian. Road fatalities in India have been rising at the rate of 8 per cent a year and, paradoxically, have only increased even as massive amounts of money have been pumped into improving roads and adding new highways, flyovers and expressways [2].

In India, it's a tragic conundrum; the better the road, the faster the traffic will go, but with lax enforcement, few rules and safety factors, it only leads to more deaths. One study showed that a 10 per cent increase in speed leads to a 30 per cent increase in road accident fatalities. A leading cause of road deaths is drunk drivers. Other factors that lead to the high incidence of road accidents: poor traffic management, bad roads, total lack of observance of traffic rules, no legal deterrents, corrupt traffic police, jaywalking pedestrians and a deadly mix of slow and fast-moving traffic, including the fact that a sizable number of fatalities due to road accidents is avoidable for want of better road safety management and availability of prompt medical help.

The fact is that there are too many vehicles on our roads which are built without any foresight or care for futureprojection of traffic volumes. Vehicular traffic in India is growing at the rate of 10 per cent per year and still the government and local agencies responsible for road safety and traffic management have been dangerously tardy in their response [3].

III. ACCIDENT SCENARIO IN GUJARAT

Gujarat is one of the most industrially developed and agriculturally advanced state of India. The population of Gujarat has increased from 4.13 crores in 1991 and 5.06 crores in 2001 and 6.95 crores in 2010.The road length in Gujarat has increased from 67065 kms in 1991 to 73619 kms In 2001. With increase in road length, the total numbers of registered vehicles in Gujarat has increased from 375683 in 1981 to 850000 in 2010. Gujarat state is having a vehicle ownership rate of 100.6 motor vehicles per 1000 persons in 2001, as against the average annual vehicle ownership of 53.5 motor vehicles per 1000 persons as per statistics pertaining to 2001. There is an increase in number of accidents from 2103 in the year 1961 to 32034 in the year 2009 [4]. The rate of accidents in Gujarat is 72.4 accidents per 10000 vehicles. The road accidents statistics of Gujarat for last ten years is shown in annexure in table-2. From the table it is seen that total accident has been maximum in the year 1999 and then it started to fluctuate. Fig.2 shows that maximum and minimum accidents in the year 1999 and 2003 respectively. Maximum fatal Accident was happened in the year 2003. A summary of the Road accidents statistics of Gujarat is given in Table-2. [5] From these data graph of road accident statistics are developed. It shows the increasing trend of accidents in Gujarat in Fig-1.2.

Over 5,200 people die in road accidents in Gujarat every year, while average number of those was getting injured in mishap is a little over 32,800.

The number keeps increasing every year, for example a whopping 5,197 people lost their lives in road mishaps in 2007. With the sale of vehicles in the state showing an upward graph, one would expect more pressure on road traffic. The present situation does not inspire much hope for future. The number of deaths caused by road mishaps in Gujarat is 10 to 15 times higher than the average in developed countries. Statistics for the last few years reveal a scary picture. It shows the number of accidents is on the rise.

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Road accident statics of Gujarat from the year2000 to 2009

Fatal Total accidents

Fig-1.2 Road Accident statistics in Gujarat

In 2007, around 34,000 road accidents were registered byGujarat police. The number will go up significantly if takeninto account the cases which are not reported to police. On an average, 93 road accidents occur in Gujarat everyday, killing 17 and injuring about 98 people. More disturbingly, 30 per cent of the road mishap victims are below the age of 30 years[5].

IV. ROAD SAFETY POLICY AT INDIA LEVEL

Road safety has become a major concern for the regulatory authorities in India today. Indian road safety situation is ten times worse when compared to the developed countries of the world, which leaves much to be done in the field of Road Safety Management. Road safety is defined as the absence of crashes, injuries and fatalities. The term "safety" implies that there are no occurrences of accidents. Although undesirable, crashes and fatalities are inevitable incidents of the transportation system. The road transportation is cursed with road accidents. A substantial accident risk is always present in the development of transport facilities. Road crashes are a growing worldwide problem. The road systems all over the world are getting more and more congested and unsafe day by day. Road Traffic Accident (RTA) is normally defined as “accident which takes place on the road between two or more objects, one of which must be any kind of a moving vehicle.

“Road traffic accidents can be called as perennial disaster, as they have claimed far more lives than any of the natural



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disasters. "Accidents are not natural but they are caused," is a common saying in the area of traffic safety. Road safety statusis the reflection of traffic culture and it is extremely poor in India [6].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 were identified as having potential for substantially reducing fatalities in India:

(1) pedestrians and other non-motorist 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[7].

National Road Safety Council (NRSC) is the apex body for road safety established under Section 215 of MV Act, 1988. It gives directions on implementation of road safety policies. Department of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India is the nodal agency for road safety in the country.

A Road Safety Policy prepared by the Ministry in the year 1992 and adopted by the National Road Safety Council in 1994 contained the following:

Classification of the causes of accidents and preventive action in terms of vehicle, driver, and engineering factors.

List of safety features for vehicle design (e.g. safety belt, air bags, collapsible steering, braking performance etc).

Fitness certification and maintenance of vehicles. Proper training and effective licensing for drivers. Road design and geometric improvements to

compensate for inadequacies of road users. Warning signs for road users. Accident black spot investigation and rectification

through road design. Design of road junctions, Design of roads in built up and residential areas,

etc. Traffic guidance, road signs, speed limit posts, and

other traffic control devices. Road pavement markings, construction of

footpaths/cycle tracks, bus bays, truck parking complexes, and other way side amenities, etc.

Traffic education and campaign on traffic discipline – inclusion of traffic education in school curriculum, promotion of defensive driving, etc.

Enforcement of maximum speed limits, and campaign on helmet use and seat belt use, curbing alcohol consumption among drivers, etc.

Emergency medical service with emphasis on saving the lives of victims etc.

The policy aimed at a targeted reduction in the accidents [8].

V. ROAD SAFETY POLICY AT GUJARAT LEVEL

The Government of India has launched a road safety initiative in collaboration with the World Bank to reduce the high and increasing number of deaths and serious injuries on Indian roads. The release said the project, which will implement the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), will assist the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and State Public Works Departments in Assam, Gujarat and Karnataka to improve road safety on 3,000 km of high-risk roads. In Gujarat Highly-placed sources in the state government said, “The new policy aims to address three important issues in road safety - road safety education (awareness), road engineering and effective enforcement of motor vehicle laws. Under the new policy, road safety course will be introduced at school level under which the students will be taught road safety issues and also the punishment for violation of the safety norms. The government will also promote formation of road safety institute and agencies in public private partnership (PPP) model.

Non-government organisations (NGOs) will also be encouraged to conduct road safety programmes like training of school van drivers, teachers, students and parents.” Sources said the government is also planning to make the existing motor vehicle act stricter and introduce new laws or rule for better enforcement of the existing rules such as fitness rules and use of reflectors [9].

“The government will also have major focus on road engineering. Many accidents occur due to faulty designs of the roads. Government will have more emphasis on road designs which can minimize the possibility of road accidents,” it added.

The different states are compared in terms of their fatalities indices. Fatality index is represented as, Fatality index (FI.) = (Fatalities/ No. Of casualties) *100 %

All India level the fatality index is 17% which is comparatively more than other developing countries which remain in between 4 to 5%. For Gujarat state the Fatality Index is 13.4% which is higher than average 4%. Table-3 gives State wise Fatality Index.

VI. KEY ROAD SAFETY PROBLEMS

Driver Related

Driver training and testing

Few years ago, statistics indicated that more than one-third of the truck drivers either did not have normal vision or werecolor blinded. Our experience based on eye tests done by us -so far indicates that the similar situation still persists. Our company assessment indicates that drivers available in themarket and holding driving licenses are improperly trained. Most of them are not aware of the defensive drivingtechniques and dynamics of the moving vehicle.



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Driver behavior

Some people behave unsafely, and deliberately ignore safety rules. They think they are smart drivers and accidents wouldnot happen to them. Many want to reach to their destinations too quickly under time pressure irrespective of road condition and traffic density. People take excessive risks in overtaking or tail gating. Every day, one can observe thousands of nearmiss incidents happening around and when it happens, it kills many innocent people also every day.

Over Speeding

Most of the vehicles and roads are designed for a particular speed. With increasing urbanisation, vehicle density on the roads has been increasing exponentially. In such circumstances, it is very difficult to stop a speeding vehicle without hitting someone. A 80 Km/hr speed means, one cannot stop the vehicle in less than 27 meter distance even with full brakes on. Problem is more severe with heavy vehicles.

Driver Errors

Overtaking at a wrong place, turning abruptly or stopping without prior signaling, which can cause collision with the vehicle following; driving fast through villages on road sides, exceeding the speed limit; falling asleep at the wheel, overturning due to going round a curve at excessive speed, driving while intoxicated etc.

Drugs / Alcohol consumption

Fatal accident rate is high particularly during night times. There are not enough instruments to spot, monitor and punish drivers on consumption of alcohol and drugs.

Impaired drivers: fatigue

Driving continuously without taking adequate rest results in driver sleeping on the wheels.

Too Many Young drivers

Statistics shows that the drivers younger than 21 years tend to drive too fast and too rash. Most of the accidents also happen

to these very young age people.

Vehicle Related

Defects in vehicles

Many vehicles are not roadworthy. Effectiveness of Brakes, tyre condition, headlights, signaling and parking lights, loose

electrical connections, handbrakes, lack of side and rear mirrors are some of the common defects widely seen. These may look minor defects but many major accidents have been

happened due to these defects.

Environment around the road

Error of drivers of other vehicles like bullock carts, tractor trolleys, cycles, rickshaw, joy walking, pedestrians, school children cattle or dogs etc. running onto roads being run over.

Roads Related Defects

Improper, inadequate road construction, potholes, Signal failures, lack of road signs etc. Studies of accidents registered with the police indicate that the number of accidents due to this reason is around 10% of the total accidents. Even allowing for some errors in analysis of reasons for accidents, the figure will not exceed 20%.

Dangerous road locations

In each road, there are certain sections, where a number of accidents of the same type happen too often. To warn drivers, about these black spots, suitable road signs are required to be placed at regular intervals. It helps in driver's judgment.

Pedestrians

Lack of pedestrian walkways, overhead / underground crossings at busy roads, short cuts by pedestrians, drivers behavior by not allowing pedestrians to cross first are some of the reasons.

Poor Rescue systems

(Communications, First Aid, ambulances, hospital facilities)As we all know, most of the fatalities occur due to absence of Basic and timely first aid care. Either people don't know the use of first aid or they don't apply it due to perceived complications with police and law. Also, there are delays in

getting medical care [9].

VII. PLAN TO STOP KILLING ON OUR ROADS

If we are determined, we can stop killing on the roads. We all play a role whether it is government, Private sector, industry; Media press TV, citizens, parents, teachers, and every one. We all can do it by:

Making people, our children staff and contractors aware of rules. Reminding them too often about dangers of the road

Learning defensive driving techniques



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By Encouragement and appreciation to good drivers

By strict enforcement of traffic rules

Sound design and maintenance of vehicles and roads

Evaluation/adjustment to road conditions

VIII. CONCLUSION

It is possible to reduce road accident rate and severity by adopting and enforcing proper safety measures. Health of the Nation is more important than the wealth of the Nation”. Road safety is a major public health concern. So attention must be given on Road safety measures. Strict implementation of road safety measures reduces road accident injuries and fatality.

REFERENCES[1] The World Health Report: Health Systems – Improving

Performance (2000). World Health Organization, Geneva.

[2] Accidental deaths and suicides in India 2000. 1-178. 2002. New Delhi, National Crime Records Bureau, Ministry of Home Afffairs.

[3] Mohan D. The road ahead: Traffic injuries and fatalities in India. Transportation Research and Injury Prevention Programme. Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, 2004.

[4] Dinesh Mohan, Geetam Tiwari. Mobility, Environment and safety in Megacities - Dealing with a Complex Future. IATSS Research 2000; 24(1):39-46.

[5] Statistical abstract of Gujarat state, Directorate of Economics & Statistics, Government of Gujarat Gandhinagar.

[6] Road accident Prevention steps in Gujarat Asian Development Bank, Road Safety Guidelines for the Asia and Pacific Region, Asian Development Bank, Manila, 199.

[7] Road safety in India : Challenges and Opportunities by Dinesh Mohan, Omer Tsimhoni, Michael Sivak, Michael J. Flannagan The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2150 U.S.A. Report No. UMTRI-2009-1 January 2009.

[8] Road safety IN INDIA By S.K. Mishra, Director (Road Transport) Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Govt. of India.

[9] 26TH ANNUAL SAFETY CONFERENCE-2004 in Gujarat safety council. Safety management in road transport.

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ANNEXURE

Table-1 Road accident statistics of Indiayear Total no.

of road accidents

Total no. of Personskilled

Total no. of Persons injured

Total no. of Registered motor vehicles(thousands)

No. of accidents per10000vehicles

No. of Persons killed per 10000vehicles

No. of accidents per 100000population

No. of Personskilled per 100000population

1970 114100 14500 70100 1401 814.42 103.50 21.20 2.701980 153200 24000 109100 4521 338.86 53.09 22.80 3.601990 282600 54100 244100 19152 147.56 28.25 33.80 6.502000 391449 78911 399300 48857 80.12 16.15 38.60 7.802001 405637 80888 405200 54991 73.76 14.71 39.30 7.802002 407497 84674 408700 58924 69.16 14.37 38.80 8.102003 406726 85998 435100 67007 60.70 12.83 38.10 8.102004 429910 92618 464600 72718 59.12 12.74 39.80 8.602005 439255 94968 465282 81502 53.90 11.65 39.90 8.602006 460920 105749 496481 89618 51.40 11.79 41.40 9.502007 479216 114444 513340 98000 48.90 11.67 42.40 10.10

Source: http://morth.nic.in; Transportation Research Wing, Ministry of Road transport and Highways, Road Accidents in India 2007.



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Table-2: Road Accidents statistics of Gujarat from the year (2000 To 2009)Number of Accidents

Year Fatal Grievous Minor injury Non injury Total accidents

2000 4539 7569 16747 7174 360292001 4478 6629 15394 6322 328232002 4469 6719 14843 5704 317352003 4335 6694 14455 4020 295042004 4671 6727 14754 4478 306302005 4922 6785 14594 4187 304882006 4861 6875 15935 4827 324982007 5197 6946 15384 5322 328492008 5590 6910 14400 4502 314022009 6112 6836 13983 4103 31034

Table-3: State wise Fatality indicesSr. No.

State Fatality index Sr. No.

State Fatality index

1 Andhra Pradesh 21.2 17 Nagaland 26.3

2 Arunachal Pradesh 22.2 18 Orissa 17.2

3 Assam 22.0 19 Punjab 47.4

4 Bihar 41.7 20 Rajasthan 20.0

5 Goa 9.4 21 Sikkim 13.9

6 Gujarat 13.4 22 Tamilnadu 18.3

7 Haryana 29.0 23 Tripura 15.2

8 Himachal Pradesh 12.6 24 Uttarpradesh 37.6

9 Jammu and Kashmir 11.6 25 West Bangal 31.1

10 Karnataka 12.2 26 Andaman and Nicobar Island 6.2

11 Kerala 4.9 27 Chandigarh 25.6

12 Madhya Pradesh 14.5 28 Dadra and Nagar Haveli 15.8

13 Maharashtra 14.0 29 Div and Daman -

14 Manipur 12.3 30 Delhi 17.4

15 Meghalaya 18.8 31 Lakshdweep 0.0

16 Mizoram 21.1 32 Pondicherry 11.0

(Source: I.J.T.M., C.I.R.T., Vol. 21, July-2004)



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Safety measures for Controlling Road Accident …...1 Safety measures for Controlling Road Accident Injuries and Fatality Manisha Minesh Desai. ME student, Transportation engg. Civil