How the Road Safety Norms have changed over the years in India.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is a ministry of the Government of India that is the umbrella organization for the formulation and administration of road transport rules, regulations, and laws, as well as transportation research, to increase the mobility and efficiency of India's road transportation system. Road transportation is an important infrastructure for the country's economic development. It impacts the speed, structure, and pattern of development. When we talk about the developments in Road infrastructure there are always discussions about the safety of people that come with it.

Road safety norms are the general rules used to regulate traffic on a particular road, especially at intersections. Road safety practices are influenced by many factors, including the shape and size of the road to be used, weather conditions, the type of roads, and other factors as well.
There are different rules for the different types of roads. Even though every road is concrete the traffic and vehicles running on them might differ.

There is always a comparison when we talk about road safety norms in countries. Every country has safety norms that might differ from the others because the needs are different. Road safety norms should be in terms of society and people’s country. This means that road safety standards should be in line with local conditions and cultures, enabling governments to take appropriate measures to reduce risks to life and limb from traffic crashes.

While there are some safety rules that the government can refer to when making decisions for road safety norms, they are beneficial for the people in India. A major part of road accidents happens at night when the driver is tired and tends to get sleepy and is overworked.

According to the Road accidents statistics for the year 2020, the total number of recorded road accidents was 3,66,138 and the loss of lives was 1,31,714 and injured people were 3,48,279. The worst affected age group of people was from the age of 18- 45 years. Road traffic accidents are the leading cause of death among young people.

In September 2020 the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution for “Improving Global Road Safety”. The Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 aims to prevent at least 50% of road traffic deaths and injuries by the year 2030.
The new Decade of Action provides an opportunity to capitalize on previous years' successes and lessons to save more lives.

The Government of the USA has ruled that the driver if driving a property carrier vehicle should not drive for more than 15 hrs after 10hrs of consecutive work, and the passenger-carrying drivers should not drive for more than 10hrs. Rules like these help the drivers take off the burden and make it safe for them to travel and for others traveling on the road.

With the opening of this highway, the authorities have penned some rules for the people.
• The speed limit fixed for this highway is 120kmph.
• Two-wheelers, quadricycles, and autorickshaws are not allowed on the highway.
• This 701-km long expressway is designed for a top speed of 150kmph.
• It will also have 9 underpasses for allowing the safe movement of wildlife which also makes it the first long expressway in the country to have these facilities.

In a press conference in Oct’22, Maharashtra CM Mr. Eknath Shinde reviewed the safety measures with Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, where he instructed that a smart safety system will be set up for the 701km Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Mahamarga. He also stated that there are 1,004 black spots in the state and the accident rate have been identified as 53%. He instructed the removal of these black spots.

Every year the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways celebrates Road Safety Week. “Sadak Suraksha Jeevan Raksha” is the theme of this year’s Road Safety Week. This is celebrated to spread awareness of the importance of road safety, which is a significant concern for the government. According to the National Road Safety Policy, ‘the Government would increase its efforts to promote awareness about the various aspects of road safety, the social and economic implications of road accidents and what needs to be done to curb the rising menace of road accidents. This would enable and empower the different stakeholders to play a meaningful role in promoting road safety.’

Road Safety continues to be a major development and public health concern acting as a leading cause of death and injuries worldwide. With road safety week it becomes the responsibility of every citizen to educate themselves and others to make Indian commute systems better.