National Road Safety Week is celebrated every year from January 11th to January 17th. It strives at creating the streets and roads in the country safer.
Throughout this week-long annual drive, the government promotes awareness about driving safely to evade misfortunes and harm. The event encourages work that all can do to prevent the majority of unnecessary casualties every day.
History of National Road Safety Week
National Road Safety Week is a movement started by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. It was essential to consider the rising majority of road accidents deaths.
As per the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the number of individuals who died because of car collisions was around 1.5 lakh in 2016, whereas the digit declined to 1.47 lakh in 2017. After the next year, in 2018, it rose to 1.49 lakh.
To enhance road security in the country’s states, in 2019, the central government started the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill. It included various suggestions by the Group of Transport Ministers of State.
A few of the important ones are raising the penalties for law-breakers, raising minimum compensation for death because of accidents, extending the driving license renewal period, etc.
National Road Safety Week Awareness
On account of the national road safety week observance, it’s advised to make awareness on road security and its influence on society by the below noted useful road safety laws and rules,
- Drive left – Make sure you always drive on the left side of the route, so that other automobiles can overtake from the right side.
- Utilize indicators wherever and whenever needed (hand gesture should also be employed if required)
- Provide a path for emergency vehicles like fire engines or ambulances etc.
- Park vehicle only in the parking zone
- Maintain suggested speed for concerned road
- Review your insurance papers and driving license revival dates
- Follow traffic alerts and lights.
- Don’t horn unnecessarily in no–honking areas (hospitals, schools, etc.)
Being the nation’s residents, it’s our big responsibility to appreciate and follow road safety laws and restrictions. By obeying the steps mentioned above, you can help society make an accident-free area and protect valuable lives.
How do People Observe Road Safety Week?
Throughout this one week-long occasion, police forces operating for street security make individuals conscious of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill of 2019 and the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988.
It is accomplished by performing various events, workshops, seminars, and meetings. Pamphlets and banners are utilized to increase awareness about traffic laws and restrictions imposed by the government.
Individuals are also provided information about the crisis contact number via hand-outs and brochures to protect the lives of those in necessity.
Every Year Road Crash Statistics
- Around 1.35 million humans die in road collisions every year; approximately 3,700 humans lose their lives each day on the streets.
- An extra 25 to 50 million undergo non-fatal damages, frequently leading to long-term disabilities.
- Road traffic injury is the highest cause of death among young souls aged 6 to 29. Young adults of around 15 to 44 years account for over 50% of all road casualties.
- Over 90% of all road deaths happen in low and average-income nations, although these nations have around 60% of the world’s automobiles.
- Road collisions may cost nations 2 to 8 percent of their gross domestic Product.
- Road accidents are the single most significant cause of death of healthy Indian residents touring abroad every year.
- National Highways, which contain 2.04% of the complete road network, continued to make up for an extreme share of 35.8% of deaths in 2019.