How To Develop Road Safety Culture????

Better thousand times careful than once dead

Prepare and prevent don’t repair and repent
Know safety No injury No safety Know Injury
Tomorrow - Your reward for driving safely today

Indians have felt the need for improved road infrastructure in most parts of India.
Although improving roads and the traffic situation within the hearts of cities is
proving to be difficult, thankfully new highways are being set up on the outskirts,
linking various towns. India has the second largest road network in the world with
over 3 million kilometres of roads of which 60% are paved. These roads make a vital
contribution to the Indian economy. With this rapid development, enforcement of
road safety is becoming the urgent need of the hour. But in this regard, the beginning
has not been very impressive.

There are many hurdles in the path to implement Road Safety safely.

Civilians, the main victim, who make a huge hue and cry about the issue are
responsible for lagging behind in the safety measures as these people on the first hand
do not follow the already devised rules. One can easily spot people jumping traffic
lights, driving while drunk, driving recklessly at supersonic speeds. Wearing seat belts
is assumed as if they have been tied with the car seats. There is a need to understand
that with such a vast population, it is the civil society on the first hand that has to play
a crucial role in achieving success in this aspect.

Poor infrastructure has led to poor road designs. Roads are built without keeping their
functionality in mind. The areas adjoining the new roads are made vacant to build
broad roads, only to find that they get swarmed with traffic rush in no time. Roads
should be made with proper planning keeping in mind their future utility, as vehicle
population also grows with time.

Vehicles designed for Indian roads are not up to the International Standards. Safety
norms are not even close to international level. Even if some luxury cars have them,
they run the pockets dry. There is a need to look for viable solution in this respect.

No proper laws have been devised and those devised are not meant and dealt
properly. Just drive as you like and if you happen to kill someone, just grease a few
palms and walk into the sunset. Such is the height of corruption in India.

Roads lack any facility for emergency services. In case of an accident there is no
provision for first aid treatment near the intersections. Victims have to cost their lives
as doctors and hospitals are usually not nearby.

Alcohol has been successful in making a distinct niche in daily lives of humans since
the centuries of the recorded history. Alcohol has been found to play a major role in
social ills in almost all countries across the world, but foremost amongst the ills
produced by alcohol is its role in traffic crashes.

Alcohol and driving don't mix, but still, many people love to drink and drive resulting
in numerous road mishaps.

The role of alcohol in traffic safety has produced more controversies than any other
topic. After drinking, the judgment power of the driver gets impaired - a threat to road
safety. Due to its effects, he tends to take more risks, becomes more aggressive and
takes a longer reaction time. It has been well established that the relative probability
of causing crash increases with the rising blood alcohol levels keeping road safety at
stake.

A drunken driver is a potential murderer as he cannot perform his tasks without risks
and endangers road safety. Drunken driving, an illegal act should be governed by
stern laws which entail not only levying hefty fines or revocation of license, but also
prosecution, same as a criminal offence. Usually, drivers escape from the scene as the
public gets involved in getting the injured hospitalized rather than snitching the
drunken driver and teaching him a lesson. But, contrary to the practice, if we make a
commitment to report the incidence to the officials concerned and take a stand against
drunk driving, then we may get successful in curbing the menace which has been
since centuries a major contributor to the traffic deaths, but, the co-relation between
alcohol and road safety still remains a matter of more research.

Road rage is a term used to refer to violent behavior by a driver of an automobile,

which thus causes accidents or incidents on roadways. It can be thought of as an
extreme case of aggressive driving. It is caused primarily, but not exclusively, by
overcrowding on inadequate road systems that were not designed for modern levels of
traffic, thus forcing a driver to set his speed not to his own expectation, but rather than
that of the prevailing traffic around him. It often occurs with exchange of swear words
and furious shouts at the fellow commuter. The best way to prevent road rage is not to
make driving a competition.

Accidents can happen any time, any place and anywhere. Prevention may be the best
offense, but that doesn’t count a ready defense. Developing a safety plan – and being
ready to use it — can make a difference whether you’re faced with a minor fender
bender or a destructive storm.

On the whole, facilities for road users are not up to the mark, leading to a high toll of
death victims. Recently, there is a growing concern over the road crash problem.
Making a personal commitment to improve road safety by adopting more courteous
and considerate road behavior and demonstrating care for the safety of others can
prove to be a life saver.

An alert mind can work wonders as far as any aspect of safety is concerned. Road
safety is such an aspect that it is in the goodwill of every citizen of the country. If
taken seriously and enforced, road safety can make us a proud nation.