Introduction

Road traffic injuries are a major but neglected pub-lic health challenge that requires
5 concerted efforts for effective and sustainable prevention. Of all the systems with which
people have to deal every day, road traffic systems are the most complex and the most
dangerous. Worldwide, an estimated 1.2 mil-lion people are killed in road crashes each
year and as many as 50 million are injured. Projections indi-cate that these figures will
increase by about 65% over the next 20 years unless there is new commit-ment to
10 prevention. Nevertheless, the tragedy be-hind these figures attracts less mass media
attention than other, less frequent types of tragedy.

The report has three aims:

To create greater levels of awareness, commitment and informed decision-making at all
levels - government, industry, international agencies and non-governmental
15 organizations, so that strategies scientifically proven to be effective in preventing road
injuries can be implemented. Any effective response to the global challenge of reducing
road traffic casualties will require all these levels to mobilize great effort.

To contribute to a change in thinking about the nature of the problem of road traffic
injuries and what constitutes successful prevention. The perception that road traffic
20 injury is the price to be paid for achieving mobility and economic development needs to
be replaced by a more holistic idea that emphasizes prevention through action at all
levels of the road traffic system.

To help strengthen institutions and to create effective partnerships to deliver safer

road traffic systems. Such partnerships should exist horizontally between different
25 sectors of government and vertically between different levels of government, as well as
between governments and nongovernmental organizations. At the government level,
this means establishing close collaboration between sectors, including public health,
transport, finance, law enforcement and other sectors concerned.

This summary of the report on road traffic injury prevention is primarily intended for
30 people responsible for road safety policies and programmes at the national level and
those most closely in touch with road safety problems and needs at the local level.

The views expressed and the conclusions drawn are taken from the considerationof
 many factors and the many studies to which this report refers.

The social and economic costs of road traffic injuries

Everyone killed, injured or disabled by a road traffic crash has a network of others,
including family and friends, who are deeply affected. Globally, millions of people are
5 coping with the death or disability of family members from road traffic injury. It would
be impossible to attach a value to each case of human sacrifice and suffering,add up the
values and produce a figure that captures the global social cost of road crashes and
injuries.

The economic cost of road crashes and injuries is estimated to be 1% of gross national
10 product (GNP) in low-income countries, 1.5% in middle-income countries and 2% in
high-income countries. The global cost is estimated to be US$ 518 billion per year. Low-
income and middle-income countries account for US$ 65 billion, more than they receive
in development assistance. Road traffic injuries place a heavy burden, not only on global
and national economies but also household finances. Many families are driven deeply
15 into poverty by the loss of breadwinners and the added burden of caring for members
disabled by road traffic injuries.By contrast, very little money is invested in preventing
road crashes and injuries.

causes of road accidents

Road accident is most unwanted thing to happen to a public, though they happen quite
20 often. The most unfortunate thing is that we don't learn from our mistakes on road.
Most of the road users are quite well aware of the general rules and safety measures
while using roads but it is only the laxity on part of road users, which cause accidents
and crashes. Main cause of accidents and crashes are due to human errors. We are
elaborating some of the common behaviour of humans which results in accident.

25 1.Over Speeding

2.Drunken Driving

3.Distractions to Driver

4.Red Light Jumping

note: start caring about yourself because life is the most valuable thing that one can
30 have.
5

Best road safety practices from around the world

According to the WHO, the middle-income countries have the highest annual road traffic
fatality rate at 20.1 per 100,000 population; the rate is 18.3 per 100,000 population in
low-income countries. The lowest fatality rate is in high-income countries at 8.7 per
10 100,000 population. But several high-income countries have much less number of
 cyclists and pedestrians than India and other developing nations.

Sweden's Vision Zero road safety policy: Sweden prioritises safety over speed-low
urban speed-limits, pedestrian zones and barriers to separate cars from bikes are the key
measures. It has proposed a speed limit of 30 km/hour, built 1,500 km of "2+1" roads
5 where each lane of traffic takes turns to use a middle lane for overtaking - this has saved
many lives. It has built 12,600 safer crossings along with strict policing that have halved
the number of pedestrian deaths over the past five years. It has also integrated the
guidelines for traffic safety and crime prevention under the Traffic for an Attractive City
(TRAST). Swedish police guidelines include safety audit guidelines.

10 The Netherlands' Sustainable Safety vision: It has led to implementation of effective

road safety measures. Infrastructure measures have reduced the number of fatalities by
30 per cent.

Europe: Slowing traffic down, separation of vulnerable people from motorised traffic,
initiating awareness campaigns, and more pedestrian crossings and fines for violation of
15 pedestrian spaces are some of the measures in place. In the EU, fines are prescribed by
law, either as part of a Road Traffic Act, or as subject of a special legislative provision.
Some countries allow police officers to decide the actual amount of the fine according to
the specificity of the traffic situation. In Finland, Sweden, Norway and Switzerland, the
amount of the fine is decided on the basis of the net income of the offender.

20 Paris: The city mayor has announced a maximum speed limit of 30 km/hour on all
streets of the city.

UK: Careless driving can be fined up to UK œ100 and points are added to the licence
number. A proposal from the department of transport restricts motorists to a speed of
25 15 mph, a fine of UK œ100, and three penalty points for overtaking cyclists. This is for a
few cities where cycle flows are high.

Germany: A computerised point system for traffic violations is in place. One can incur up
to three points if the offence endangers traffic safety. Once there are eight demerit
30 points, the licence is revoked. To get it back, the motorist needs to pass a physical and
mental status examination.
 California: A new traffic law will be implemented from September 2014. It aims to
reduce high rates of bicycle accidents, injuries and fatalities across the state. Motorists
will be required to keep at least a three-feet distance from bicycle riders as they pass
them on the road.

Measures Taken to Reduce Road Accidents in INDIA

1 Strict Rules

2 Heavy Fines

3.Use of Speed Detection Devices

10 4 Safety Measures

5 Reducing Corruption

The Bottom Line

With a population of 1 Billion people in our country and a police force of less than 200
per lakh persons, it will take time for the officials to curb the number of road accidents.
15 But, the ray of hope lies in following rules, taking safety measures and in not paying a
bribe to avoid challan.