Since Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari took over the Ministry of Road Transport, the country’s road network has expanded at an unprecedented rate. Expressways are being built, flyovers are being constructed, and travel times are decreasing. In other words, this road development has increased the country’s economic dynamism. As for freight transportation, road transport is considered preferable for safe delivery. As the country’s roads have developed, drivers are increasingly negligent about speeding on the expanded roads.
Furthermore, drivers are increasingly ignoring proper driving signals, increasing road accidents and loss of lives.
In the state of Punjab, one life is lost due to a road accident every two hours. In a recent report presented in the Rajya Sabha, the Ministry of Transport stated that the rate of road accident deaths has increased by 22 percent in the last five years. While speeding is a major reason for this, not wearing helmets on two-wheelers also claimed the lives of 609 people in 2024. This figure was even higher in previous years. Perhaps with the advent of the new era of small and large cars, the number of deaths in two-wheeler accidents has declined to that of car accidents. Failure to wear seat belts will result in 372 deaths in 2022, 649 in 2023, and 391 in 2024.
Overspeeding has claimed the lives of 14,135 people in the last five years. Experts point out that the rise in fatalities in accidents is due to drivers’ disregard for traffic rules, overloading, and poor supervision of commercial vehicles, along with speeding.
Overloading of vehicles alone has claimed the lives of 2,725 people in the last five years. This increase in fatalities raises questions about the effectiveness of modern roads. The government has launched awareness campaigns for road safety. Strict fines are issued for violating traffic rules. Now, even e-challans are being issued. These include road widening, underpasses, overpasses, signage, and the closure of illegal cuts. The ministry periodically reiterates these guidelines, but the question arises as to why the death toll continues to rise. Is this because there is only publicity and advice, but no facilities to address road accidents? Roads suddenly break down, creating black spots. Why are they not identified in time? The substandard construction of new roads is often washed away by a few unusual rains, leaving the roads waiting for repairs for a long time. Furthermore, the department appears to be negligent in controlling stray animals that wander onto these roads. Stray animals are a major cause of road accidents. The recent increase in accidents and loss of lives has heightened the administration’s and society’s concern about reckless road construction.
We also believe that there is a lack of security on the roads. The Punjab government has deployed mobile vans to prevent accidents on these roads, as accident victims often experience a lack of assistance on the spot for their safety and treatment. Passers-by also often neglect to transport injured vehicle occupants to hospitals. Many people die after accidents due to a lack of immediate medical attention. Therefore, if the growing scourge of road accidents is to be curbed, traffic control personnel and everyone traveling on these roads must fulfill their responsibilities.