The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ (MoRTH) 2019 report, Road Accidents in India, states that over 70 per cent of road crash fatalities in India are due to speeding. That is quite a startling number and then begs the question - how do we curb the speed demon?
Since 2018, across the world civil society has been conducting a plastic waste audit or brand audit.
Doomsday movies invariably are set in barren landscapes where nothing grows with the sun beating down mercilessly. I wonder when we have our Apocalypse, whether it might not be closer to the truth that these future humans will be struggling through a landscape piled high with plastics, so high that the actual earth is not visible.
Across the world people are coming to realise that roads, especially in our cities, should not be about the metal monstrosities that we call vehicles, but should be about people. That people use these spaces, which are public spaces, for a variety of purposes - from the obvious one of mobility to livelihood to recreation. Yet all our planning, our laws on roads and transport is focussed on the inanimate, polluting vehicles.
For years my commute in whichever part of the world I have been in, has been by public transit. Even on holidays, I use public transit. You can actually manage to figure it out ahead of time (the Internet is a wonderful thing!). But somehow I hadn’t really thought about cycling as a commute option, not since college anyway!
Back in the saddle
As part of the National Road Safety Month, on February 18th 2021, CAG held a webinar on road safety in Tamil Nadu. The highlight of the webinar was the perspective shared by Mr. Pramod Kumar, IPS who heads the State Traffic Planning Wing of the Tamilnadu Police. With the recent strides made by Tamil Nadu in reducing road crash fatality, he was able to throw light on how these have been achieved and how the government is not waiting to rest on its laurels but looking to improve the state’s track record so the state can reach zero deaths.
Over the years, as CAG has interacted with citizens across Tamil Nadu on road safety issues, we have noticed that many of us are unclear on insurance matters. Do we need insurance to drive a vehicle? What is third party insurance? What is mandated by law?
A study by CAG to analyse compliance with helmet and seatbelt rules in Chennai city. It was found that since its 2017 study, more two-wheeler riders and car drivers were complying with the law. However, pillion and passenger compliance is non-existent.
CAG analysed compliance with helmet and seat belt rules in Chennai city and found that since 2017 (when CAG carried out its first compliance study) more two-wheeler riders and car drivers were complying with the law. However, pillion and passenger compliance is non-existent. A perception survey among two-wheeler and car users found that many of them believe they comply with the law when they actually don't and a majority of them agreed that stronger penalties and stricter enforcement of the law would help.
CAG’s plastic waste audit throws light on those companies that are the biggest polluters. Read more about what we found and how you can help to make a difference.