Context
‘The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on countries in the southeast Asia region to accelerate measures to lessen road traffic deaths, a main reason of mortality amongst people aged between 15 and 29.
About
- Vulnerable street customers, which include pedestrians, bicyclists, and 2 or 3-wheelers represent 66% of all said traffic deaths in the southeast Asia region.
- The area accounted for 3,30,223 of the 1.19 million predicted worldwide avenue traffic deaths in 2021, accounting for 28% of the worldwide burden.
- The WHO South-East Asia Region, amid fast urbanization, faces demanding situations along with,
- High prevalence of motorized 2 and 3-wheelers,
- Inadequate traffic injury data, poor pedestrian and bike owner infrastructure, and
- Limited emergency services.
- With 70% of the worldwide population projected to stay in urban regions by 2030, demand for public transport will surge.
WHO Regions and Road Accidents
- Road Accidents in India
- According to the World Health Organization (WHO), each year, 3,00,000 people are envisioned to be killed on the street in India. It is equivalent to more than 34 people every hour of every day.
- In India, street crashes are estimated to value between 5% and 7% of national GDP.
- Focus regions for higher protection
- Helmet use: It must be enforced among motorcyclists in addition to their pillion passengers. Correct helmet use can cause a 42% reduction within the threat of deadly injuries.
- Speeding must be reduced: Speeding reasons 70% of India’s avenue crash deaths. Also there has to be no tolerance for drink-driving.
- Road infrastructure ought to be more desirable: Many roads aren’t in a secure situation, even though government programmes in recent years have led to speedy improvements.
- Behavioral changes: Large-scale public recognition campaigns along with the new UN international campaign for avenue protection #MakeASafetyStatement, regarding international celebrities, ought to be undertaken to stable behavioral changes.
Steps taken by India
- Implementation of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019.
- The Act hike in penalties for traffic violations, electronic tracking of the identical, improved consequences for juvenile driving,
- Computerization/automation of car fitness assessments, don’t forget of faulty automobiles, streamlining the 0.33 party coverage and fee of increased compensation for hit and run cases and so on.
Global measures
- Road protection, a public health and improvement priority, is essential to accomplishing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- In September 2020, the UN General Assembly launched the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 which aims to lessen road traffic deaths and injuries by as a minimum 50% by 2030.
Way Ahead
- Low- and Middle-Income Countries want to prioritize the safety of susceptible road customers, consisting of pedestrians, cyclists, and riders of two and 3-wheelers who’re disproportionately at higher threat.
- Strengthening trauma and emergency care systems, improving avenue protection statistics, sturdy leadership and promoting collaboration among all stakeholders are critical for enhancing avenue protection.
- While the WHO South-East Asia Region noticed a 2% decrease in avenue fatalities in 2021, contributing to a global 5% reduction, further efforts are needed to meet international goals.
Source: The Hindu