Unfortunately, our country’s inhabitants, many of whom claim to be car aficionados, are not so concerned with safety. The level of safety on Indian roads, as well as our lax attitude toward traffic rules, is startling, but much more shocking are some data disclosed in recent research. A study, conducted by MDRA for Nissan India and SaveLIFE Foundation, covered 11 Indian cities and collected responses through 6,306 face-to-face interviews. They also did 100 in-depth interviews, two focused group discussions, and on-site observations to assess compliance with CBSE School Bus guidelines as well as rear seat belt usage. The research reveals a slew of alarming statistics about road safety in our country. Road traffic accidents are the biggest cause of death among those aged 5 to 29. Every day in 2017, 25 youngsters under the age of 18 were killed on Indian roads.
It is unfortunate to learn these facts, given all cars made today include seatbelts for all back seat occupants. Some people even believed that rear seatbelts did not improve safety. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), wearing a seat belt in the back reduces the risk of mortality by 25% and injuries by 75% in the event of an accident. The issue also extends to school buses, which are often the preferred form of transportation for many parents’ children. Observe any school bus passing by on the road, and chances are you’ll see children seated on seats with no seat belts. The MDRA research confirms this, stating that barely 10% of school buses had seatbelts. Approximately 91% of persons said they had never been stopped by police for breaking the law. Only 7% of persons claimed they wear rear seat belts, while 27.7% were unaware that there is legislation requiring the usage of seat belts in the second row of cars. None of these statistics, however, are as frightening as nearly a quarter of the population being unaware of the existence of rear-seat belts in automobiles!
The government should take steps to raise knowledge about the rule, and traffic cops should enforce it more strictly. It is well known that obtaining a driver’s license in India is quite simple, and there are no adequate techniques for educating individuals on how to behave when riding or driving on the road. In our country, there are numerous driving schools, the largest of which is the Maruti Suzuki Institute of Driving and Traffic Research. IDTR has highly qualified specialists who teach individuals the proper way to drive on roads through classroom instruction and practical training in a closed course. With highly advanced real-time imagery and results available to the driver to analyze and remedy their flaws. Even though this is a relatively inexpensive process, 41 percent of adolescents report having learned to drive from their parents or relatives. Learning in this manner not only puts people’s lives in danger, but also implies that the learner is unfamiliar with the majority of the important rules of the land.
