IRF URGES GOVERNMENT TO DRAW A ROAD MAP TO FIX KILLER BLACK SPOTS IN DELHI AND REST OF INDIA

New Delhi August 19, 2014 International Road Federation (IRF), a Geneva based global body working worldwide for safer roads has expressed concern at increasing number of fatal road accidents in the country . Annually, at least 1.40 lakh people get killed in road crashes in the country and India accounts for more than 10 per cent of the total road accident fatalities worldwide.

“We urge the government and the various state governments to fix killer accident prone black spots in Delhi as well as other parts of the country . These black spots, which are accident sites, where accidents occur again and again have been identified by the Delhi Traffic police as well as the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). Delhi alone has about 20 identified killer black spots including ISBT KAshmere gate where fatal road accident took place on Monday” said Mr K.K.Kapila, Chairman , Internationa Road Federation (IRF) .

“The fixing of the flaws in about accident 20 black spots identified in capital including ISBT Kashmere Gate, Punjabi Bagh Chowk, Mukarba Chowk, AIIMS, Bilaspur Chowk (GTK), ISBT Anand Vihar, Mahipalpur Chowk, Dhaula Kuan, Rajokri Flyover, Shahadra Flyover, Nigambodh Ghat, Moti Bagh, Wazirabad Chowk, Peera Garhi Chowk, Shastri Park, Brar Square, Nangloi Chowk, Mukundpur Chowk, Burari Chowk and Ghazipur red light.will help reduce capital’s morbid record of losing about 1900 lives per annum “ said MR Kapila.

“We urge the government to make every possible effort to change the road safety culture while establishing clear road safety norms. Global agencies involved in road safety have blamed lack of policies and enforcement as the main reasons behind increasing road fatalities in the country.” said Mr Kapila.

India is a signatory to the United Nation’s Decade of Action plan for Road Safety across the world which aims to reduce road fatalities by 50% by the year 2020.

“Several measures towards improving road safety including much awaited amendment in the Motor Vehicle Act (MVA), improvements in roads from engineering perspective, road safety audits in all stages of road construction, beginning right from the planning stage, besides identification and remedy of black spots which account for almost 90% of road fatalities in India will help reduce fatal road accidents” added Mr Kapila.
“IRF has also recommended several road engineering measures , improvement of faulty signage’s and trained about 300 road engineers from various government agencies for road audits. Central Govt has also released funds for road safety but remain unutilized ” Said Mr Kapila
The other suggestions include enforcement of traffic rules and provisions of Motor Vehicle Act 1988 Enforcement of these rules include wearing of helmet, use of reflective tapes by tricks and buses, mandatory fitment of side and rear under run protection in trucks and buses and strict action against over loading of vehicles.