india tops fatal road accidents

This is the report which hurts all of us like anything. The mistakes made by you and I is now proving costly, India tops global list of fatal road accidents. In 2007 alone road accidents claimed more than 1.3 lakh lives in the country. “This is an alarming situation as we have been labelled as the country with maximum road deaths. China used to be ahead of us till two years ago, but not any longer. Of this, a majority of cases are of hit and run, which is an area of concern,” said Brahm Dutt, secretary, Road Transport and Highways, Government of India.  What’s more intrguing is the fact that India is still a newbie in global automotive market and it has only fraction of automotives what countries like United States have. The problem is clearly not because of plenty but due to mismanagement and absence of any stringent safety norms.

What Government proposes: The government has decided to constitute national and state level safety boards with experts on road design, vehicle safety and health as members. “The primary role of the boards, which will “come into effect very soon” through an Act of Parliament, is to ensure safety norms are followed by all stakeholders road builders and maintenence agencies, vehicle manufacturers and road users,” said K H Muniyappa, Minister of state for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways.

The government is also going to initiate talks with auto manufacturers to introduce more sophisticated safety gadgetry, as is done abroad. “Devices like airbags, anti-braking system, improved suspensions and the like, which will improve the safety of vehicles will be introduced soon,” added K K Kapila of International Road Federation (IRF). Dutt and Kapila were speaking at a conference on `Mobility and Safety in Road Transport’ organised in the Capital on Friday by IRF.

Straightfrmtheheart: Our road and traffic conditions are not even suitable to drive your vehicle, hence please don’t try to do stunts or race. We sincerely advise you to wear good helmet and proper riding gear while riding a bike. For the occupants of the car please ensure everyone of the occupants has worn seat belts. Atleast from today make sure that safety features of a bike/car also influence your buying decision. Only when you start demanding, these lofty manufacturers will think about it. Bear in min! atleast your kids should have safer cars and safer environment to drive.

In continuation with this post, in the recent past i came across this scene in Bangalore and was able to capture this picture with my phone. Have been trying to get this picture on some post for quite sometime, but could not locate where i had copied the picture on my computer. Sri's post on Ikon Accident prompted me to search for the same. And i think this picture definitely looks like a good candidate for 'Guess what this was!'.

On a more serious note, until we have cars made in India which are more sturdier with basic safety features like Airbags, ABS etc it would be tough to ensure passenger & pedestrain safety on roads, urban, rural or highway. I am not sure what happened to the passengers ot this car.

Looks like some heavier vehicle rammed into the car from behind so severely that the entire cabin frame has been crushed. Can only pray that people drive vehicles little more carefully for the sake of their own & others safety.

oopss this is a really scarey picture...rminds me of a similar condition of a car which i had seen many yrs bak....

sum1's wife n kids died in that car....n he kept that car (similar to the 1 above) with him...

Yes. I had read a similar articles in Times a couple of years ago. It said, that India accounts for a total; of just 1% of the total world cars, but when it comes to accidents India has a share of about 15%.

Recently in New Dehil a scropio killed a entire family travelling in a 800 in an accident.The driver was drunk when he was driveing.After hitting it rolled in the road many times before it came to a stand still.The passangers in 800 were thron into the air for few feets before they fell hard on road & died, the passanger in fornt were killed on the spot while the 3 on the back seat died on the way to hospital.

Igot a pic of a crashed indica i 'll post it later.

remember the Car wid got smashed cuz of a Dum-head truck driver who took the DND Expressway from the other side.....as in ...he was on the right side of the Divider !...... n d whole Car was was reduced to pieces .......

Our people are cost concious but safety averse.Besides safety features mean costly vehicle.

So the pressure to make safe vehicles is low.M800 & Omni should ideally be banned.But they continue to sell.

Also people learn  driving without proper schools or insrtuctors.Liscence making in hand of touts.Police interested in money not your safety.

Basically the will to improve is lacking with all i.e users,administration,manufacturers.

MAruti 800 n Omni shud b banned ??...well well....den what do u say abt the NANO ??...

also ..d ppl r also to b blamed.....WE INDIANS wud put r lives at stake just for saving sum money...!!...so its not the Car-makers fault..

Crash test is not mandatory in India.Air bags & ABS still not compulsary.Tubeless tires optional.Road side mechanics preffered over company garages.duplicate  parts industry thrives.