India’s neglected roads: A compounding crisis

Introduction 

India holds the unfortunate distinction of ranking among the highest in global road accident fatalities. These incidents represent a major public safety crisis, especially affecting young men. Despite various initiatives and programmes aimed at improvement, we are unable to bring down the number of lives lost in road accidents.  According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), there were 168,491 fatalities from road accidents in 2022, averaging approximately 461 deaths each day. In 2021, road traffic injuries were the 13th leading cause of death in India. While human error is often cited as the primary cause of most accidents, significant factors such as poorly designed road infrastructure frequently go unnoticed.

Is there a connection between improved roads and the number of lives lost? We will explore this topic further in the following sections.

The state of Indian roads and the call for improvements 

In 2019, the Times of India reported a tragic road accident that claimed four lives due to insufficient road infrastructure. A speeding vehicle, carrying four young adults, lost control while navigating a speed bump on a bridge and fell into a canal in Ludhiana. This incident was exacerbated by the lack of proper signage, such as warning signs indicating a speed bump ahead, along with poorly constructed speed bumps that failed to meet standard dimensions and were inadequately visible. Such stories are all too common, highlighting the urgent need for enhancements in road design and maintenance. Our roads often suffer from potholes, insufficient signage, poor lighting, a lack of pedestrian footpaths, flawed road engineering, and absent lane markings - all of which contribute to accidents. In March this year, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, highlighted that road accidents in the country often stem from minor civil errors and flawed Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), with no accountability in place. He urged the road construction industry to prioritise road safety by adopting innovative technologies.  

Let’s take a look at the various aspects of road construction and design that cause accidents. 

1. Defective road designs:
   Poorly designed roads are a significant factor contributing to the increasing number of road accidents in India. Lack of road design features like wide lanes, proper curvatures, visibility at turns, media strips, rumble strips and lane markings can contribute to road accidents. Numerous audits carried out over the years by the Transportation Research and Injury Prevention Centre (TRIPP) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi have revealed many flaws in India’s road infrastructure such as elevated carriageways, dangerously high medians and improperly installed crash barriers. In addition, out of a total of 13,795 black spots identified on national highways, only 5,036 black spots have undergone long-term rectifications. 
2. Poor quality of roads:
   Roads with potholes, inadequate drainage, and substandard surfaces can result in vehicles skidding and losing balance. In 2022, approximately 4,446 accidents were attributed to potholes, resulting in 1,856 fatalities and 3,734 injuries. That’s not all,  9,221 individuals lost their lives in the same year in accidents caused by disruptions due to ongoing road constructions. 
3. The role of signals and signage:
   Signals and signage play a crucial role in providing guidance, warnings and regulatory information to drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. Inadequate signals and signage affect traffic flow and create confusion on the road, leading to mishaps. For instance, in an audit conducted along a 3059 km stretch in Odisha, a staggering 2150 km of road were found to have faulty or no signages at all.   
4. Inadequate road lighting:
   Poor lighting conditions decrease visibility for drivers and pedestrians during nighttime. Adequate and well-designed road lighting minimises accidents and contributes to a safe and more comfortable environment for everyone using the road. Recently, inadequate streetlights along the national highway that runs through Vijayawada have been a primary factor contributing to numerous accidents in that area, creating significant risks for both pedestrians and motorists.
5. Vulnerability of pedestrians and cyclists:
   The lack of dedicated infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists makes them particularly vulnerable to road accidents, highlighting the need for improved facilities to ensure their safety. Around 35% of traffic deaths in urban areas involve pedestrians, pointing to a deplorable lack of pedestrian infrastructure. 

Success stories in India

In India, there are notable success stories demonstrating that improved road design and infrastructure can significantly reduce road accidents on the road. One such example is the  Safe Corridor Demonstration Project (SCDP) of the World Bank-funded Second Karnataka State Highway Improvement Project (KSHIP-II).  In 2016, under this project, 56.4 km of the Belgaum-Yaragatti road was improved by identifying accident hotspots and implementing engineering and non-engineering measures into place, thus successfully lowering accident rates along this stretch by 50%. (Engineering measures entail  physical changes that are made to the road, such as installing crash barriers, tabletop crossings and speed humps. Non-engineering measures consist of improved emergency care systems, enforcement, awareness, etc.)

Key features of the road infrastructure enhancement included

• Installation of a physical median at intersections
• Addition of rumble strips and crash barriers
• Creation of table-top crossings and speed humps
• Establishment of overtaking zones in hilly areas

Cross-section of a road highlighting essential infrastructure

Source: iRAP

These interventions not only benefited motor vehicles but also enhanced pedestrian infrastructure. As a result, they were able to reduce the number of road crashes from 179 in 2015 to 85 in 2018; this shows a 47% reduction in road accidents and a 50% reduction in road fatalities. 

Other notable successful interventions are the Kazhakoottam-Adoor (SH-1) Safe Corridor Demonstration Project (SCDP) in Kerala, which achieved a remarkable 46% decrease in deaths between 2013 and 2021. In Andhra Pradesh, Renigunta-Kadapa Stretch (SH-31), a 22% reduction in deaths from 2012 to 2015 were recorded after safer road strategies were implemented. 

Challenges and drawbacks

In India, traffic police are the source of official government statistics related to road accidents, as well as the data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH). The police file a First Information Report (FIR) based on the account of the person reporting the crash. Once these FIRs are filed, the contents cannot be changed except by a ruling from the High Court or the Supreme Court. After the investigation is complete, a case file is prepared, in which the details of the crash are determined by the police department. At the end of this process, the offending party is charged with offences under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Motor Vehicles Act. 

As the investigation is carried out by the police who might not always understand the technicalities of road design, it often leads police officers to assign blame to one of the individuals involved in a crash, typically identifying the driver as at fault. Rather than accurately documenting the causes of accidents, they are frequently recorded as the responsibility of the road user. Consequently, this approach results in a greater number of cases being classified as "human error", leaving little room for recognising crashes caused by poorly maintained vehicles, poor roads, lack of infrastructure and poor design.

Currently, there is a lack of a systematic approach for scientific investigation, recording, analysis, and database management within the country. Due to this, it can be challenging to interpret and justify the effectiveness of various road safety improvement measures. In addition, underreporting of road accidents leading to low prioritisation of road safety remains an ongoing concern.

To ensure consistent road design, the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) has developed a comprehensive road safety manual. However, these have remained un-implemented  across both the National Highway Network and the non-NHDP (National Highway Development Project) roads.

Conclusion 

To minimise road accidents, it's essential to focus on enhancing the following core areas: 

• Engineering measures and enforcement: All engineering solutions should be complemented by strict enforcement to maintain a clear separation between fast and slow-moving traffic on the roads and prioritise vulnerable road users. 
• Implementing a standardised road accident investigation system: To guarantee consistent and comprehensive data collection and analysis after road accidents, a standardised road accident investigation system must be established. This initiative aims to enhance safety measures and prevent accidents. It is essential to develop a clear protocol for on-scene investigations and analyses. This effort will lead to a deeper understanding of the causes of road accidents. Ultimately, it will assist in formulating effective mitigation strategies.
• Advanced data collection systems: A standardised accident data recording system should be uniformly adopted across all states. The data collection process should incorporate technology, utilising GPS and computer interfaces to ensure maximum accuracy.
• Comprehensive road project reviews: Every road project must undergo reviews at various stages to address any road safety concerns. Road safety audits should be integrated into project planning and evaluated as needed.
• Budget allocation: Sufficient budgets need to be allocated to build road infrastructures and to ensure maintenance of global standards. 

By implementing these recommendations, we can create safer roads, save lives and thus create  a safer future for our commuters.