The Ministry of Road Transport is developing an extensive plan to introduce dedicated lanes for two-wheelers on state highways and urban roads.
This initiative also includes the construction of pedestrian foot-over bridges (FOBs) or underpasses on major urban arterial roads. The initiative is a direct response to alarming statistics showing that 44 percent of road accidents and subsequent fatalities in India involve two-wheelers. Traffic non-segregation has been identified as a significant contributor to the high rate of road accidents in India. Pedestrians also represent a vulnerable group, accounting for 17 percent of total crashes and an alarming 19 percent of fatalities. Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs), which include pedestrians, cyclists, and two-wheeler riders, collectively represent more than half of the fatalities resulting from road accidents.
Under the ‘SAFE’ initiative, the Ministry has released a consultation paper to develop strategies aimed at reducing road crashes and fatalities, with a particular focus on VRUs. Drawing on successful implementations in countries like Malaysia, which have dedicated corridors for two-wheelers, the proposed strategies aim to segregate traffic and significantly reduce accidents.
In addition to infrastructure improvements, the Ministry’s proposals include integrating comprehensive road safety modules into the school curriculum and hosting annual road safety workshops. This educational component is particularly crucial, as over 50 percent of road accident victims are youth. The scheme aims to achieve a substantial reduction in accidents and fatalities, targeting a 70 per cent reduction in incidents per 10,000 vehicles and a 50 per cent reduction per 10,000 km of road length. Conceptualised as a centrally sponsored scheme (CSS), the programme is projected to cost Rs 14,000 crore. The central government will contribute Rs 9,948 crore, while states and Union Territories (UTs) will provide Rs 4,053 crore.
The initiative adopts a three-fold approach: mandatory initiatives, target-linked interventions, and state road safety ranking interventions. These strategies are designed to empower states and UTs to prioritise critical issues, foster grassroots-level best practices, and establish clear lines of responsibility and accountability. Furthermore, the plan includes mandatory road safety interventions with phased targets, subject to annual assessment. Incentives will be provided to states and UTs based on their achievement of annual road safety targets. An annual ranking system will evaluate their progress in reducing road crashes, fatalities, and injuries.
This comprehensive approach underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing road safety and reducing fatalities among two-wheeler riders and other vulnerable road users. The successful implementation of these strategies could set a new benchmark for road safety standards in India, ultimately leading to safer roads and saving countless lives.
