About 350 people die every day on India’s roads – more than any other country – among those under 18 and two-wheeler riders are most vulnerable, according to various data. Under -18 constitute 11.93 per cent of traffic fatalities. The toll primarily stems from rash driving, below-global-standards roads and shunning of safety – either deliberately or through ignorance. Children suffer most in accidents, holding baby in arms is unsafe for two-wheeler riders and most vulnerable, according to 2013 WHO data. As many as 34 per cent of two-wheeler users who died in accidents – nearly three times the number of those in car accidents – did not wear a helmet. India’s rising, chaotic traffic makes them even more vulnerable. As far as the rate of accidents in Jammu is concerned it is on higher scale. During the Governor rule Governor N. N Vohra had re-commended for improvements in road architecture and called for Safety Audit to be carried out for the identification of “black spots”. The Governor had asked the Chief Secretary to finalise the Road Safety Action Plan within 20 days and identify every matter that requires executive or legislative approval, which was to be accorded by 15th March. Vohra directed that there should be no further delay in establishment of Institute of Driving Training and Research (ITDR) and Inspection and Certification Centre (ICC) both at Jammu and Srinagar. A special drive was to be launched for the removal of encroachments and clearing all roads and footpaths for the smooth movement of vehicles and pedestrians. Nobody knows what’s the status of these decisions and how far they have been implemented. J and K Road Safety Council was constituted in 2012 and its first meeting was convened by the then Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal on 15th September, 2012 wherein several important decisions were taken in order to check road accidents and ensure road safety. The major decisions included setting up of Road Accidents Data Management System, appointment of Road Safety Commissioner, conduct of Road Safety Audits of National Highways and other major roads, setting up of Modern Training Institutes and Vehicle Fitness Centers, construction of crash barriers and parapets and deployment of ambulances fitted with advanced life support system at regular intervals on all highways across the State; all these are yet to be implemented. That is how we see safety on the roads in J and K.
