Better behaviour key to improving road safety

Noting that 85 per cent of all accidents on the roads happen because of improper human behaviour, the panelists at the session on ‘Sustainable and Safe Transportation’ were of the view that improving behaviour on the roads is critical to improving road safety. Panelists at the session were of the view that attitudes play a very important role in improving road safety and inculcating the importance of human life among motorists can significantly help reduce the number of road accidents.

But the panelists could not reach at a consensus on how to go about improve people’s behavior. While some saw educating people as the way forward in improving road safety, others thought better infrastructure and enforcement had the key.

“When we did a study on the behaviour of white people while driving, we found that 77 per cent of them were not wearing seat belts, which they would have done in their countries. This proved that education cannot work and law enforcement is the key,” Dinesh Mohan, Professor of Transport Research and Injury Prevention Programme, WHO Collaborating Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.

Mohan further added that no deaths were reported on the stretch of road in Delhi that has been made a Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) corridor. The number of deaths on this stretch used to be around 18 annually.

But the view was contested by Andrew Pearce, Chief Executive Officer, Global Road Safety Partnership, Switzerland, who said: “While infrastructure cannot improve overnight, it is important to concentrate on improving human behaviour.”

Many also felt that cities in many parts of the world, even in the developed world, are not safe and that people do not feel safe when they are on the roads. “Cities have to be made taking into view the comfort of people and not vehicles, so that pedestrians do not fear to come on to the road,” said Siddhatha Lal, Managing Director and CEO, Eicher Motors India.

Having speed limits in place and ensuring that the speed limits are met and not violated was one of the ways to control accidents.

“When a car hits you at a speed of 70 km per hour, the energy with which it hits is the same as 40 bullets would have. It is very unlikely that anyone will survive the impact,” said Kenya’s Minister of Transport, Amos Muhinga Kimunya.

Some also felt that the people that in developing countries people care less about life.

“Most people do not care about life and that is visible in the way they travel and overload. Fatalities on Indian roads are increasing by 8 per cent every year and education, proper enforcement of laws, proper quality of vehicles, and timely and proper evacuation and emergency care are the four critical issues for improving road safety,” said Vikram Kirloskar, Vice-Chairman, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, India.