Let’s also think of Road Safety in the Lockdown
The latest Global Status Report 2018 states that over 13 lakh 50 thousand people died in road accidents in the year, which means the death of 3,700 people every day in the world. The number of people who get injured or severely injured leading to lifetime disabilities is several times more. Also, Road crashes is a major cause of death for the population in 5–29 years age-group.
In India, almost 1.5 lakh people are killed every year in road accidents besides a huge number of people escaping death with serious injuries. That is road crashes account for 400 deaths every day in the county. It is estimated that road crashes cripple the GDP by almost 3%.
I am aware that one health emergency cannot be compared with the other, as causes, context and cures for each one are different. There are no two opinions regarding the seriousness of corona spread and the need to contain and curb it with appropriate measures. But there are some striking similarities in these two problems. They both are dreadful and destructive in their ways. They threat human lives and existence. Hence both are potential dangers for the future of humankind.
Governments and political institutions across the countries in the world have geared up to combat the spread of the virus right from the beginning. Measures are being taken on a war footing by all the governmental systems like health, police, urban local governments to non-governmental agencies. In India, after the COVID 19 was declared a pandemic, the central government started state-wide lockdown that got extended for 60 days and barring the essential services nothing was functional till it was eased on 3 May 2020. Other countries have also used lockdown in varying degrees to contain the spread of the virus. This measure entails a huge economic impact, as most economic activities have stopped, employment and wage work has taken a severe hit. The International Monetary Fund has predicted a possibility of impending depression that will be worst than the one we survived in year 2008.
Government of India planned its measures at multiple levels even when the virus spread was at a nascent stage. By listing its measures from time to time, GoI assured the Indians that it is equipped to combat Corona. Safety measures are put in action at multiple levels, from the individual, family, social, religious, cultural to political measures, along with the governmental measures. News media is single-mindedly focused on the virus and spreading public awareness ever since the first set of patients were identified. This explicit sense of urgency and need for preparedness is needful, but it is never seen in tackling an equally important problem of road crashes. On the contrary, the emphasis remains on the widening of roads and construction of huge flyovers and danger-prone expressways. Public awareness is minimal and misses the root cause of the problem. This Corona pandemic has led to more research and studies to find a cure for the same, however, little effort is ever made to scientifically analysis the problem of road crashes and get conclusive measures to curb them.
Now we all are aware of how to protect oneself from the Corona. The do’s and don’ts are well imbibed on our minds — observe physical distancing, use a face mask, wash hands with foamy soap frequently, cover your mouth while coughing or sneezing and avoid physical contact with patients suffering from lung ailments. Similarly, we can prevent road crashes by being mindful about a few safety measures — control your speed, use a helmet, use seat belts, strictly no drink and drive, and observe traffic rule. These key steps will put a check on road crashes and will reduce the harm even when they take place. Only if these measures are enforced, we will reduce road crashes substantially. But when the Government will pay attention to their enforcement?
The way we can protect ourselves from virus infection with a few precautionary steps, we can also reduce fatality and intensity of road traffic injuries.
COVID 19 was an unknown virus so far, hence it is referred to as ‘novel’ coronavirus. We neither have enough knowledge about how it is going to impact nor have a vaccination ready to stop it. Although this virus has caught us off-guard, we have refused to get bogged down by its attack and are determined to fight against it. These individual and collective measures have shown positive results and we have succeeded in checking the pace of its spread. If we can fight with resolve with a new virus, why can’t we use the same zeal to fight an old problem affecting the world? In India, over 14 lakh people died in road crashes in just one decade (2008–2018). Isn’t this number shocking and calls for strict enforcement of safety measures worth by the Government?
Take a closer look. The fatality rate estimated for COVID 19 in 3%. While 3 out of 100 corona infected persons are likely to die, 37 deaths occur per every 100 accidents. The urgency and intensity are incomparable.
A general apathy has become an excuse to push the issue of road crashes under the carpet. The perception is that ‘people don’t care for their own lives’, ‘people don’t want to follow traffic rule, they lack the discipline’, ‘public awareness is a must’. In this pandemic period, however, we see that people do care for their lives, they follow the rules and they seek self-awareness. With a systematic and whole-hearted effort, it is not impossible to convey a sense of urgency and mindfulness regarding public safety. With the same logic, the problem of road crashes have to be tackled.
The lockdown has shown us how much we all care for the life and well-being of our loved ones, our community and society at large. To prevent the spread, we have taken to isolation for over 40 days, we maintain a safe distance when we go out for shopping, and we properly wash our hand frequently. As we know this is the most sensible thing to do. Cannot we be equally grounded and responsible for our road safety ?
Although there is no ready cure for corona right now, we will get one in a passage of one to two years. We will contain it through effective vaccination. I am sure we will find a road to cure, but when are we going to win our war against road crashes ?
Sandeep Gaikwad, Advocacy Coordinator, Parisar, Pune
( Mob. No. 97028 30546 E-mail ID-sandeep@parisar.org)
Parisar is a non-governmental organization, working since the past four decades on issues like Sustainable public transportation and road safety. Parisar advocates at the National and State level for better implementation of policies, rules and regulations.
