Bring in technology

Ramesh Kumar in New Delhi

For India to slash down road accidents (500,000) and fatalities (150,000) by half and succeed in dropping from topping the dubious distinction of global road accident/fatalities table, awareness campaigns are fine.  That alone won't do.  Why?  Because the ailment is severe.  Needs a slew of initiatives structured collectively.  Education/awareness and strict enforcement.  Right?

While not belittling education (awareness)  role in establishing an accident free India, strict enforcement is absolutely the need of the hour.  Awareness and enforcement have to go together for achieving the ultimate goal

These thoughts resurfaced as I was fronted with Aninda Paul, a young highway engineering professional with good ground experience during his tenure with Punj Lloyd, one of the leading infra companies in India.

"Stop manual monitoring, if you are serious about ushering in behavioral change," says this Assamese highway pro.  Instead put up electronic surveillance and penalize them is his recommendation.

 "Yes,  fear is the key.  Financial loss is crucial because it pinches you personally.  I know there are opinions that technological solution is costly.  Actually,  it is not.  Even if you take the revenue collection via traffic violation fines in Delhi alone done manually,  it is astronomical.  Don't forget the unchallaned collection from violators by enforcement officials in the form of bribe.  The pay in will quickly offset all expenditure," adds he.

However,  there is a rider.  There should no revenue target set for enforcement authorities.  Ideally,  the revenue collection from traffic violators should peter off. That will be a sign of maturity, explains this Researcher with the Asian Institute of Transport Development (AITD).

Perhaps making renewal of driving licence for all vehicles - online,  of course - every one or two years.  Violators have to cough up penalties before renewal.  It is a regular happening in many countries.

Given the massive shortage of police personnel to monitor roads in metros mostly where violations are on the rise,  electronic surveillance with stiff penalties will address that issue as well.

Yes,  technology is the key.  The law makers  keep on delaying the Motor Amendment Bill demanding dilution of various items,  but they fail to realize that they are assisting indirectly "killing" on roads.
They need to be "educated" equally.

All said and done,  the decibel level of Road Safety is rising. Don't believe?  Check your respective local dailies.

As I exit AITD campus in Dwarka on a sunny Wednesday afternoon with a solid document on  "Road Safety Engineering Measures", my eyes stumble upon the 12 point directives issued by Government of Karnataka on passenger bus safety following several bus accidents involving Volvo buses.  Very interesting.  Will talk about it soon.

Safety is one's own responsibility. Somehow this basic item in our survival kit is missing.
Remember Charles Darwin's survival of the fittest? To become fit,  you need to survive first.
Kapish?

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