The Neglected Epidemic: Road Traffic Crashes in India

Abstract

Deaths and injuries resulting from road traffic crashes are a major and growing public health problem in India. Every week nearly 2,500 people get killed and 9,000 get injured due to traffic accidents. Traffic accidents have now earned India a dubious distinction; with nearly 127,000 deaths annually, the country has overtaken China to top the world in road fatalities. While in many developed and developing countries including China, the situation is generally improving, India faces a worsening situation. Road traffic collisions on the nation's roads claim five times more lives now than they did three decades ago. Without increased efforts and new initiatives, the total number of road traffic deaths in India is likely to cross the mark of 250,000 by 2025. There is thus an urgent need to recognize the worsening situation in road deaths and injuries and to take appropriate action. Certain interventions such as enforcement of legislation to control vehicle speed and alcohol consumption, mandating the use of seat-belts and helmets, and safer design and use of roads and vehicles have huge potential to reduce the incidence and impact of road traffic crashes. The time has come for the central, state, and local governments to act now. Acting now will save thousands of lives.