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SAFETY

of the problem. Even where there is in conflict with transportation policies in India and focuses on Mumbai
recognition, the approach is top-down and projects that address congestion as a case study to understand the
– the effects of which are miniscule and facilitate travel. For instance, underlying factors embedded in
at lower levels of governance. For investments in building new roads the city’s political, economic, and
instance, in 2015, India signed the to improve car-use often take priority social framework that influences
Brasilia Declaration committing to over road safety improvements or the road safety. The study identifies five
halve its road traffic deaths, sparking enhancement of public transport. opportunities to affect road safety
debate at the national level. Since Opportunities for reform reform in the country. Broadly,
then, multiple attempts have been these are reforms at the policy and
made to institutionalize road safety – A series of public interest litigations legislative level, an improvement
the National Road Safety and Traffic filed by concerned citizens led to the of co-ordination between agencies
Management Bill (2010) and National establishment of the Bombay High- and enhanced capacity building,
Road Safety Bill (2014) being the Power Committee in 2012, and the fostering political action, engaging
most notable. However, these have Supreme Court Committee for Road with citizens and encouraging citizen-
faced resistance from various interest Safety in 2014. These endeavours led efforts, and recognising the role
groups. In addition, the proposed have spurred some action at the local of the global road safety community,
Motor Vehicles Act Amendment Bill and state levels. While such efforts civil society, and private partners.
of 2016 is yet to see the light of day. may prove to be successful in the Recognition of road safety as
At the state level, policy action is short term, their long-term viability is the joint responsibility of decision
rare, and those at the city level are questionable. In the face of lagging makers and road users, coupled
non-existent. political will, continued state-level with political action and legislative
resistance, and lack of a coordinated reform at all levels of government
Misplaced priorities road safety strategy, progress in will be essential to bring about
Road safety does not feature on India has been slow at all levels of long-term improvement. Such
any political party’s agenda. Instead, government. changes, accompanied by increased
the burden of safety is placed A strategic shift leading to the participation from the civil society
squarely on road users – both by adoption of a safe systems approach and private players can push India
the public and by decision-makers. to tackle road safety should address to achieve its target of 50 percent
Victim-blaming is very common. Road these issues. This study examines reduction in road traffic fatalities in
safety is considered isolated from and the political economy of road safety the foreseeable future.

58 June-July ’18 / TrafficInfraTech www.trafficinfratech-com-500653.hostingersite.com