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SMART TODAY SMARTER TOMORROW

Safety in High-Speed Corridors

“ ndia must learn from As per Mathew’s assessment, to 180 km per/hr.
developed countries on how many states are working on In the case of traffic mix,
to reduce road crashes and road safety, however, on the Mathew mentioned that
fatalities based on data,” ground, nothing constructive has Indian highspeed corridors
Isaid Tony Mathew, Principal happened. “The only programme allow pedestrian and cyclists
Transport Specialist, TRL, as he going across the country is movements whereas in the UK
made the opening presentation identifying black spots on NHs.” these are prohibited.
on road safety. According to While comparing India with Mathew raised a valid question
him, until now, Indian authorities other developed countries,
have not yet given the needed Mathew suggested that on how India can achieve safety
priority to road safety issues. on the expressway. He revealed,
India must develop a global, “It needs to be safely designed
appropriate robust system with emergency amenities than
to make decisions based food mall or petrol pumps.”
on evidence. In this regard, According to him, on a UK
Mathew appraised the audience motorway, after every 10 km,
about the implementation there is a rest station, however,
of iMAAP, a road accident Indian national highway lacks
data management system in such amenities, and prefer
Himachal Pradesh. This system commercialization of land with
focuses on unlocking the food malls or petrol pumps.
potential of existing transport Indian highways lack emergency
infrastructure, whilst enabling lanes with sufficient carriageway
a smooth journey towards a width and length.
smart mobility future. “We will
Mathew, in his presentation, soon deploy iMAAP in Kerala There has been little research
targeted Indian authorities for and will propagate the same in into the difficult questions
its negligence on developing other states.” related to the readiness of road
a system which can provide a infrastructure, its maintenance
reliable evidence-based crash Comparing India with the and configuration requirements
data. Data gathered from the UK and its approach to road for autonomous vehicle. Through
Road Ministry suggests that safety, the latter’s motorways Smart Mobility Living Lab (SMLL)
two-wheelers, pedestrians and are the safest in entire Europe. a co-innovation project, part-
passenger cars contribute more The country has 3,900 km of funded by Innovate UK, led by TRL
than 60-70% in overall road highspeed motorways, and the in the UK, more data is gathered
deaths. Head-on collision, rear- speed limit is fixed at 70 miles through practical trials to prove
end collision, pedestrians hit, and i.e. 112 km per/hr; however, in that autonomous vehicles will be
others contribute to around 50% India although the speed is limit able to operate efficiently and
of the crashes on the National is at 120 km per/hr, it has come safely on open roads and provide
Highway network, touted to be to the notice that vehicles have a viable alternative to current
India’s highspeed corridors. gone beyond the speed limit up mobility solutions.

64 December ’19 - January ’20 / TrafficInfraTech www.trafficinfratech-com-500653.hostingersite.com