Road Safety: Key Messages
Written by Radio4Child on 2 February 2025
- India has 1% of the world’s vehicles but accounts for 11% of all road accident deaths and 6% of total road crashes (MORTH, 2018).
- Every day, around 42 children and 31 adolescents are killed in road crashes, contributing 10% to the total road crash deaths, with most of these deaths occurring near schools and colleges.
- Establishment of best practice criteria for legislation by the WHO on four key risk factors: Speeding, Drink driving, Motorcycle helmet use, and Seat-belt use.
- A major cause of death due to road traffic injuries in children and adolescents in India is over speeding.
- Some of the major interventions that can help in reducing road traffic injuries (RTIs) include:
- Creating 30km/h speed zones, resulting in a 70% reduction in fatal child pedestrian injuries.
- Having separated cycling lanes, leading to 44% fewer bicycle deaths in cities.
- Using motorcycle helmets, resulting in a 69% reduction in head injuries and a 42% reduction in the number of deaths.
- UNICEF’s report indicates that pedestrians are the most vulnerable group, accounting for 42% of road traffic injuries, followed by vehicle occupants at 26% and motorcyclists at 24%. It is estimated that the effectiveness of pedestrian refuge islands will lead to a 25-40% reduction in pedestrian injuries.
Tagged as Road Safety
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