Bending the road crash curve requires focusing on road design and construction, driver behaviour, and accident response. India’s road problems begin with the detailed project report (DPR) preparation and assessment – ‘made on Google’ is how Gadkari described them. Ideas of changing tendering norms, subjecting DPRs to audits will make a difference. The idea of regular road safety during construction and use will result in continuous monitoring that can help identify and rectify design flaws. But the big change has to be driver behaviour. The Motor Vehicles Act now provides tougher norms for violators, making it less onerous for good Samaritans. But it is state governments that must agree and implement tougher rules, not dilute them. Local police and traffic cops need to step up efforts to improve compliance and be proactive in raising awareness. ‘We are like this only’ just won’t do any more. Local road transport authorities must be more rigorous in issuing licences, police less lackadaisical about imposing a culture of rules-based driving.
Road safety is a collective responsibility that’ll take the shared commitment of all stakeholders – government at all levels and its agencies, private sector, civil society and individuals – to make our roads far safer than they are.