Team-BHP > Road Safety


Reply
  Search this Thread
2,069 views
Old 30th June 2022, 12:53   #1
Senior - BHPian
 
TusharK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Pune
Posts: 6,177
Thanked: 55,001 Times
Lancet: Steps taken to check speeding can save 20k lives

According to a Lancet study, steps taken to check vehicle speed on Indian roads could save 20,554 lives annually.

Name:  Screenshot 20220630 125148.jpg
Views: 298
Size:  111.0 KB

The study focuses on four risk factors, including speeding, drunk driving, non-use helmets and seatbelts. Taking steps to avoid these infractions could prevent 25-40% of 13.5 lakh fatalities worldwide.

As per the report, promoting the use of helmets could alone save 5,683 lives each year, while the use of seatbelts can prevent 3,204 deaths.

The Lancet study is based on the data from Global Burden Diseases 2017 that put the deaths caused due to road injuries in India in 2017 at 2,18,876. However, according to government data, 1,47,913 lives were lost due to road accidents in 2017.

The Lancet study also provides an estimate for the lives that can be saved if steps are taken to check road violations in other countries, including the US, China, Mexico, South Africa, Thailand and Turkey.

Source: The Hindu

Link to Team-BHP News

Last edited by TusharK : 30th June 2022 at 12:55.
TusharK is offline   (4) Thanks
Old 30th June 2022, 13:40   #2
Distinguished - BHPian
 
ABHI_1512's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Calcutta
Posts: 929
Thanked: 10,991 Times
Re: Lancet: Steps taken to check speeding can save 20k lives

More than speeding, it’s the other three factors which are disconcerting and are major reasons for deaths in India. In our country, wearing seat belts are taken as a chore even for the front passenger and the driver. Rear seat passengers hardly wear seat belts and most of the crashes results in deaths despite the airbags and all.

Two wheelers are notoriously known for using the wrong lane even in high speed highways, obviously all these without helmets. Thank god, states are now insisting on the use of helmets but those are limited to cities only. The wrong side driving by two wheelers are a major recipe for disasters and that needs to be addressed.

Drunk driving has come down a little now with ample policing and deterrent fines but more needs to be done. Lancet is known to come up with more correct reports and studies possible, this report is no less.
ABHI_1512 is offline   (2) Thanks
Old 30th June 2022, 14:09   #3
BHPian
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: MH01/TS09
Posts: 693
Thanked: 1,757 Times
Re: Lancet: Steps taken to check speeding can save 20k lives

Quote:
Originally Posted by TusharK View Post
According to a Lancet study, steps taken to check vehicle speed on Indian roads could save 20,554 lives annually.

Attachment 2327309

Link to Team-BHP News
I wish they would do a study on how many lives can be saved if all the trucks and buses have functional and active and visible tail lamps.
1.2TSI7DSG is offline   (4) Thanks
Old 30th June 2022, 14:28   #4
Senior - BHPian
 
amitoj's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Windham, NH USA
Posts: 3,325
Thanked: 3,014 Times
Re: Lancet: Steps taken to check speeding can save 20k lives

I am somewhat surprised to see such high numbers from China, especially on seat belt use. Regardless, the article states that steps taken to reduce speeding through "infrastructure and electronic speed control" could save nearly 3.5 million lives globally every year. Easier said than done though. I read an article recently about how how parents who lost their kids in accidents where the kids were pedestrians, have had to struggle for years to bring about any change to reduce speed. The article was heartbreaking. I will try to find a link and post it.
Edit: Here's the link : When Cars Kill

Last edited by amitoj : 30th June 2022 at 14:30.
amitoj is offline  
Old 30th June 2022, 15:09   #5
BHPian
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Chennai
Posts: 314
Thanked: 1,488 Times
Re: Lancet: Steps taken to check speeding can save 20k lives

I find the numbers pretty dubious, to be honest. Here is why:

1. The default reason for cops to file a report on an accident-related death is speeding. This can skew the numbers even if the actual reason was something else.

2. USA loses 3x the lives of India due to non-usage of helmet? Doesn't sound plausible at all.
shyampsunder is offline   (6) Thanks
Old 30th June 2022, 15:22   #6
Senior - BHPian
 
maddy42's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Coorg
Posts: 2,130
Thanked: 1,326 Times
Re: Lancet: Steps taken to check speeding can save 20k lives

Quote:
Originally Posted by shyampsunder View Post
I find the numbers pretty dubious, to be honest. Here is why:

1. The default reason for cops to file a report on an accident-related death is speeding. This can skew the numbers even if the actual reason was something else.

2. USA loses 3x the lives of India due to non-usage of helmet? Doesn't sound plausible at all.
Helmets are not mandatory in all states. There are states where just eye protection is enough to ride a motorcycle. Also harley riders frown from even a half face helmet.
maddy42 is offline   (3) Thanks
Old 2nd July 2022, 11:49   #7
BHPian
 
Shreyas Agarwal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Lakhimpur Kheri
Posts: 238
Thanked: 1,299 Times
Re: Lancet: Steps taken to check speeding can save 20k lives

Quote:
Originally Posted by maddy42 View Post
Helmets are not mandatory in all states. There are states where just eye protection is enough to ride a motorcycle. Also harley riders frown from even a half face helmet.
India sells almost 15 million motorcycles a year. USA about 0.8 million.

The frequency of use is in India is much higher as well. We use motorcycles for commute whereas they are primarily leisure vehicles in the USA.

Not wearing helmets is a huge issue at least in tier 2 and tier 3 cities where enforcement and awareness both are poor.

It seems highly improbable that India can save barely 5000 lives in helmet use where as US almost 3 times the number.
Shreyas Agarwal is offline  
Old 2nd July 2022, 12:01   #8
BHPian
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: New Delhi
Posts: 308
Thanked: 922 Times
Re: Lancet: Steps taken to check speeding can save 20k lives

I simply do not understand the need to go fast - especially while driving within municipal limits. I have seen innumerable scooters, motorcycles, cars and even three wheeled tempos in a tearing hurry only to find them stationary merely 50m-100m ahead at the next traffic signal. The 'need for speed' is so bad on Delhi NCR roads that anyone driving in his/her lane and following speed limits is honked at as if they have broken the law! The habit of trying to squeeze between two lanes just to get ahead is also baffling. Flashing headlights, aggressive honking and swerving in front of cars is commonplace in Delhi.

BHPians who are driving in Delhi NCR -: What has been your experience? Any suggestions which will help staying safe on Delhi roads are most welcome.

Thanks.
kushagra452 is offline  
Old 2nd July 2022, 13:08   #9
BHPian
 
Join Date: May 2022
Location: Chandigarh
Posts: 166
Thanked: 316 Times
Re: Lancet: Steps taken to check speeding can save 20k lives

Traffic rules are only enforced in Tier 1 and 2 cities. On the highways there are no checks where most fatalities happen.
attinder is offline  
Reply

Most Viewed
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Team-BHP.com
Proudly powered by E2E Networks