road safety

Despite countless reports underlining the threats faced by pedestrians on Indian roads and the high number of casualties, Indian cities have failed to provide safe and secure walking spaces to pedestrians. What does the law say on the ‘right to walk’?

Hyderabad’s first second-level flyover, inaugurated with much fanfare, had to be closed down following two grave accidents, causing three deaths and several injuries. Increasingly, fingers are being pointed at glaring design issues, especially its dangerous curves and inclines.

Heavy rains have affected nearly 300 km of roads in the city. Innumerable potholes dot most roads which have become death traps for commuters, especially two-wheeler users. However, it is anybody’s guess when restoration work will begin in most of these areas.

In 2018, pedestrians comprised more than 50% fatalities on Mumbai streets; the numbers for Delhi and Bangalore stood at 44% and 40%. Our streets have turned into a battlefield between cars and citizens, and citizens almost always lose.

Not so long ago, residents and visitors alike gushed over the pleasure of walking along the fragrant tree-lined avenues of Bangalore. Today walking in the city is a nightmare. What changed, and what can be done to encourage and protect pedestrians?

In Pune, a two-wheeler rider wore a cooking pan on his head, to protest the crackdown on helmet-less riders. In Puducherry, the chief minister himself led a dharna against mandatory use of helmets by all two-wheeler riders. What’s behind such apparently senseless protests?

Despite several voices in favour of the proposed Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, its passage remains stalled in the Rajya Sabha. What’s more, even transport unions and workers seem deeply opposed to it in principle. A look at the contentious provisions that have met with objection.

The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2016, if enacted into law, could have helped to reduce road accidents. But it remains a casualty itself of an indefinitely adjourned Parliament.

Close to 450 driving school trainers from Kolkata and other districts have been trained under a programme piloted by the premier institute under the ‘Safe Drive Save Life’ campaign of the state government. The mission: to promote a culture of safe driving by training the trainer.

If Parliament passes the new Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill 2016, the sum of compensation available to hit and run victims could go up significantly. But what are the existing legal schemes for compensation and how does one avail that?