Events
& Issues
New
Delhi, 25 September 2019
Road Safety
DISCIPLINE VITAL
By Dr.S.Sarswathi
(Former Director,
ICSSR, New Delhi)
Under
the new Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act that has come into force, fine amounts
for violation of traffic rules have been
heavily raised. The intention, as clarified by Union Minister for Road
Transport and Highways Nitin Gatkari is not to garner revenue but to make
people follow rules so as to reduce the number of accidents.
Predictably,
the steep rise in penalties has provoked wide protests from many State Governments
and Parties so much that common road users are inclined to overlook the basic fact:
To safeguard the lives and limbs of road users.
The
Minister pointed out that in India 5 lakh accidents take place, 1.5 lakh people
lose their lives which is the highest record in the world. The majority of deaths
are in the 18-35 age-group and the GDP loss due to these accidents is estimated
to be 3%.
Besides,
this subject falls under the Concurrent List in the distribution of powers
between the Centre and States and therefore Central legislation will prevail
over the State’s. However, as in all matters in the Concurrent List,
responsibility rests both on the Central and State Governments. The Act prescribes
maximum and minimum penalties and State Governments are free to fix actual
rates within this range.
Though
consultations had taken place before passing the law, several State Governments
including some BJP-ruled are averse to accepting and enforcing it. The Gujarat Government
announced 25% to 90% reductions in penalties stipulated under the Act on what
it terms “humanitarian grounds”. In some cases fines have been radically
reduced from Rs.10,000 to Rs.1,000. While Uttarakhand has also notified reduced
fines, Bihar, Goa, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, and West Bengal have asked for
reduction of fines. Punjab has not
accepted the new rates.
West
Bengal Chief Minister has rejected the penalties as “very harsh” and decided not
to implement them. Mamata believes in the “Safe Drive, Save Life” campaign
which is already there without effect. “There are so many poor people also,
where will they get all this money from”?
she asked and has not missed the opportunity to bring in the issue of federalism
to criticize the Centre’s move as an interference into the federal structure. This argument has more fun than reason since
the fine amount collected will go fully to the State coffers.
Importantly,
the World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention developed by the WHO and
World Bank recommends that each country should prepare a multi-sector national
road safety strategy with targets for achievement of specific outcomes and
allocation of necessary resources to ensure implementation of necessary
activities. Over 150 countries have
responded.
The
WHO launched a Global Status Report on Road Safety in 2018 and its first report
highlights that traffic deaths has reached 1.35 million in the world. In fact,
road accident injuries is now the leading cause of death of young people in the
15-29 age-group. The report confirms that proven measures exist and drastic
action is needed.
In
higher income countries, road accident is among the top 10 causes of “disease
burden”. In less developed countries, it
ranks 11th among causes of injuries leading to disability and loss
of healthy life.
Under
the amended Motor Vehicles Act, where no specific penalty was fixed earlier,
penalty of Rs.100 for first offence is increased to Rs.500 and for second and
subsequent offences from Rs.300 to Rs.1,500.
Dangerous
driving, drunken driving, racing and speeding, driving uninsured vehicles, are
punished with imprisonment and /or fine. Fine for disobedience of orders,
unauthorized use of vehicle without license, driving without license, driving
despite disqualification are increased 4,5 and even 10 times. Of these, driving
despite disqualification is considered a very serious offence for which the fine
is enhanced from Rs.500 to Rs.10,000.
In
cities many accidents are caused by minor children driving their parents’ vehicle. This is now a serious offence which might
incur cancellation of registration of
the vehicle for one year and re-registration only on fresh application. Two new
sections 199A and 199B have been added which provide a penalty of Rs.25,000 and
imprisonment up to 3 years. The minor will not be able to get license till the
age of 25.
Undeniably,
protests against the Act sounds like a demand for right to lawless driving. The
argument that fines are too high to be borne by ordinary vehicle users is
ridiculous.
Nearly
half of all traffic deaths worldwide take place in Asia-Pacific region. In developing countries including India,
enormous increase of automobiles on the roads and increasing need for mobility
besides huge increase in population and road users result in traffic
problems.
Among
individual countries, Ethiopia has recorded the highest rate of fatalities per
vehicle according to the WHO and Uganda ranks second. Pedestrians are most at
risk in South Africa, and Ghana.
Also,
the WHO, World Bank and European Union have developed comprehensive road safety
plans. Road traffic injuries are regarded as an important public health problem
at local, regional, national and global levels and some European countries are
far ahead of others in taking safety measures.
The
Swedish Parliament passed the Road Traffic Safety Bill in 1997 adopting “Vision
Zero” based on ethics and science focusing on safety as more important than
mobility. It emphasizes collective
responsibility of all road users and public authorities. Its strategy ---
Sustainable Road Safety --- aims at complete
elimination of deaths and injuries on roads.
Norway
also has a “Vision” and National Action Plans involving politicians and the
public. In Denmark, a Commission
collects detailed information on causes and circumstances of road
accidents. Japan follows “People First”
policy and submits a White Paper on Traffic Safety every year to Parliament and
a panel of experts develop Fundamental Traffic Safety Programme every five
years.
In
Britain seat belt must be worn by drivers and all passengers and the
responsibility for the safety of children in the vehicle is that of drivers. Use of hand-held mobile phones while driving
is punished with heavy fines. Penalty
points are recorded in the drivers licenses and if they exceed more than12 in 3
years, permit for the vehicle is revoked.
In
Japan, road safety receives political support, which stands in sharp contrast
to what has come to be known as “VIP Culture” in India. The less said about this the better, for it
has reached unbelievable extent throughout the country. The culture of road safety has to be taught
as in some countries safety of road users gets high political support.
However,
having earned a place among top ranks in corruption index, India has to avoid
providing more scope for corruption on roads to escape heavy fines.
Not
all accidents are caused by drivers’ fault. While vehicle users must be punished for
violation of every rule as prescribed in the Act, accidents must be investigated
separately. Condition of roads and
other infrastructure must be improved and all kinds of encroachments including
posters and banners reducing road space and distracting attention have to be
removed to reduce accidents.
Road rules must be common for all with
exceptions only for extreme emergencies. Ultimately, road safety is a matter of
road discipline. ----- INFA
(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)
New
Delhi
24
September 2019
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