Road Accidents in India - Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

Road Accidents Survey

The Government has undertaken Road Safety Audit of selected stretches of National Highways/Expressways with a view to strengthen road safety on highways, The specific aim of Road Safety Audit is that safety should be a prime post-construction operative feature. The analysis of road accident data received from States/UTs reveals that drivers' fault is the single most important factor responsible for accidents, fatalities and injuries (78.5%). Some of the other factors responsible for road accidents are as under:-

Fault of pedestrian	2.2%
Fault of cyclist	1.2%
Defect in road conditions	1.3%
Defect in condition of motor vehicle	1.8%
Weather condition	0.8%
All other causes	14.2%

The Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways collects data on road accidents from all States/UTs in a format developed as per the Asia Pacific Road Accident Database (APRAD) project of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific (UNESCAP). These data are analyzed and an annual publication titled "Road Accidents in India" is released every year by the Transport Research Wing of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The latest issue of the publication for the year 2009 was released in April 2011. The report contains data on road accidents and related parameters, including factors causing road accidents, for all States/UTs.

The data used in the publication are based on returns received from the Police Departments of respective State/UT Governments.

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) follows Indian Road Congress(IRC) specifications in the design of highways. Traffic study is carried out by the consultant at the time of preparation of feasibility report /DPR. The consultant proposes a variety of measures like improvement of junctions, provision of underpass/over bridges, pedestrian crossings etc. from the safety perspective. Also, region specific requirements are provided in IRCcodes. The geometric design of highways factors in variations in terrain, material, traffic, etc. Functions of IRCinclude preparation of Standards, Codes of practice and guidelines for the planning, design, construction, operation & maintenance of roads and bridges in the country. IRC is not involved in actual designing of specific roads.