-: [rti4empowerment] Fw: [AWARE] Time for war against road accidents

I forward this because of the disastrous state of our roads-one major reason-corruption."We will not pass you in the driving test till you pay a bribe/just pay the bribe and you will be passed regardless of whether you can drive or not".

Regards

Urvi

From: प्रिय रंजन Priya Ranjan

Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 12:44 PM

To: dev-aware

Subject: [AWARE] Time for war against road accidents

Time for war against road accidents

J&K Monitor - The Project

Written by Ajmer Alam Wani

Thursday, 02 December 2010 00:00

JAMMU: They (people in government), knew that there is an noticeable increase in deaths due to road accidents which are caused due to overloading, but they never bothered to take pro-people steps. The overloading is going unchecked on the roads and fatalities are reported but the traffic cops are seen active expanding their chest in Jammu city, showing their presence and activeness, to ensure smooth flow of traffic for VVIPs.

On such tragic accidents like that of Kalakote, nothing more than condolences and expression of shock and grief is given by the people in government. Regrettably, no one tries to look into the root cause of accidents and come out with a substantial plan or suggestion to cut down the frequency of accidents. Today's accident has once again left everyone in a state of shock, as six precious lives were perished and 40 injured due to overloading which if checked by the traffic control authorities in time would have been saved.

The need of the hour is to ensure the safety of passengers, but, for that traditional, or one must say, outdated approach should be updated by all quarters. The Kalakote accident which is result of overloading, time has come for the government, which is in deep slumber over this particular issue, to act quickly and start a war against the road accidents to save the precious lives. The deaths in road accidents are shooting up and the state of Jammu and Kashmir is leading ahead fast in deaths in road accidents.

As per the figures and reports of past couple of years accidents are proving bigger killer than militancy in the state. Relevant to mention here that during the year 2009 a total of 1,031 people died in road accidents while only 72 were killed in militancy-related incidents. The figures clearly indicate that the state is facing bigger threat then militancy which is road accidents. The figures show that in Kashmir alone, 299 people died in 1,874 accidents and the total number of civilian casualties in militancy incidents is not even one-third of that number.

There were more than 5,000 accidents in the state and 500 militancy incidents in 2009. It is worth mentioning here that few hundreds are killed by terrorism every year but the countries, even in our state too, are spending billions and trillions to fight terrorism and we had a war against terrorism. Now, it is time for war against, Road accidents. The Government has to act and move ahead?

The safety of the passengers cannot be ensured by checking documents alone. Parameters should be evolved to check the health and temperament of drivers and officers on duty should assess to ensure the safety passengers in the vehicles. Need is to devise a prolonged strategy and remove the bottlenecks in the agencies concerned.

SOME SCARY FACTS

By 2020, unless action is taken, road traffic injuries are predicted to rise overall by about 80 per cent in low and middle income countries.
1.2 million people worldwide are estimated to be killed each year on the roads – that's around 3,000 deaths daily, 500 of them children.
50 million people worldwide are believed to be injured in road crashes each year, 15 million seriously.
Low and middle income countries account for more than 85 per cent of global deaths from road traffic crashes.
The global financial cost of road traffic injuries is 518 billion USD each year.
The cost to low and middle income countries is 65 billion USD, more than all development aid income.
For males aged 15-44, road traffic injuries rank second (behind HIV/AIDS) as the leading cause of premature death and ill health worldwide.

If Govt can focus here, road accidents can be prevented

Strict enforcement of speed limits. 90 % of accidents can be avoided by strict enforcement of speed limits. Existing speed limits should be brought down further.Heavy Penalty should be imposed on all those who cross speed limits. If this is strictly implemented, nobody will dare to go at high speed. Heavy penalty should be imposed for those who cause accidents.
Driving tests for issue of driving license is to be made more stringent and foolproof.
Helmet should be made compulsory by law in all states, Or impose a lower speed limit for those who do not use helmet. Helmet should be made compulsory for back seat riders also.
Strict enforcement of existing traffic rules. Law should be modified such that the person who made the accident has to bear (say) 0 to 10 % of the insurance claims, depending on severity of negligence. Also the compensations should be made very huge, making accidents unaffordable so that everyone will be very vigilant.
All those who do not maintain the safe distance for the speed should be punished.
Safety awareness should begin from childhood, as it is difficult to impart awareness to a grown up a human. If safety awareness is imparted at childhood, safety will be a habit.
Video and Computer Games that simulate Racing should be banned by Government OR discouraged by parents as it will develop racing habit in children.
All sorts of Motor sports especially racing should be banned by government. Telecast of Motor Sports and Racing also should be banned.
Children below a certain age should not be permitted to do cycling in busy roads / roads where heavy vehicles are plying.
Refreshment parlors should be made available at (say) every 50 / 100 km. on all national highways and truck / heavy vehicle drivers should be forced to refresh by having a face wash or by having a cup of tea or coffee.
Advertisement boards and other items that may obstruct visibility at junctions, curvatures and other parts of the roads should be removed immediately.
Ensure that the money recovered as Road Tax is fully utilized for the construction /maintenance of roads.
Time Punching of Private buses (practiced in some states) should be discontinued as it is forcing the drivers to go at high speed, after traffic blocks.
TV and other media should be effectively used for Public safety awareness.
Major accidents and accident prone areas should be scientifically analyzed.
Speed should be restricted at accident prone areas. Stringent traffic rules should be enacted.
License of those who are involved the accidents should be suspended immediately; at least until they prove that they are not guilty.
Roads should be properly maintained. Permanent contracts / arrangements should be in place for maintaining all roads in good condition 24 hours a day, 365 days an year. If a gutter is repaired in time it can save a life!!!
Health of vehicles should be strictly enforced.
Eyes of old aged driving license holders should be tested periodically.
License of drunkard drivers / riders should be cancelled immediately
Judicial Commissions should be setup to monitor steps taken to control road accidents.
Roads should be straightened / widened wherever required.
One way traffic should be implemented as far as possible. Medians should be constructed in roads with two way traffic.
Footpaths and medians should be made mandatory for important roads.
Zebra crossings should be provided for pedestrians for safe road crossings at appropriate places. Signals for road crossings at important busy places where a large number of people have to cross the road everyday.
Roads should be properly marked. Proper sign boards should be installed.
Obstructions on road sides, caused by unauthorized construction / road side sales should be eliminated.
Visibility should be increased near curvatures. Sometimes, even cutting of grass to increase visibility can help save many lives.
A small pool of water or a hanging branch of tree on roadsides can cause accident, as such obstructions will make the pedestrians / drivers to take sudden lateral (cross) movement and result in accidents. Hence any obstruction on road sides which can cause a cross movement should be completely rectified timely.
Accident statistics should be periodically reviewed to understand the effect of actions taken. Corrective steps should be taken based on these reviews.
Tamper proof speed controllers should be made mandatory for all heavy vehicles. New heavy vehicles should have built in tamper proof speed controllers.
Two wheeler manufacturers should be asked to design two wheelers with a designed maximum speed of (say) 50/60 kmph. (Suitable speed limit may be selected for each route.)

Last Updated on Thursday, 02 December 2010 12:28

Priya Ranjan, Practicing Ph.D. in Internet Technologies

Official Internet Wanderer
दिलदार वेताल ऑफ़ इंद्रजाल :)

All history points to India as the mother of science and art,This country was anciently so renowned for knowledge and wisdom that the philosophers of Greece did not disdain to travel thither for their improvement.-William Macintosh

India had the start of the whole world in the beginning of things. She had the first civilization; she had the first accumulation of material wealth; she was populous with deep thinkers and subtle intellects; she had mines, and woods, and a fruitful soul.-Mark Twain (American playwrite)

How to defrog India and how to depig the US? More ideas welcome :)

Corruption is practical implementation of theoretical ideals :)

.‎"If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully developed some of its choicest gifts, has most deeply pondered on the greatest problems of life, and has found solutions, I should point to India."- Mark Twain

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to leave the world a better place, to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, this is to have succeeded. ( Ralph Waldo Emerson)

My challenge for India is to get rid of its chattering class-lovingly called chatterati:)Too many intellectuals and no work is our tragedy:)

Prof. Mohan Bhagat@UMD ate up all the money raised for adivasis :) He also wanted everyone else to move to Narmada valley. When I asked him if he is moving himself sucker says-"Do you think I am perfect?". Its time to teach him some perfection and value of making promises rather than just eating up public money. Let me know if you want to help me :)

So much for Delhi Univ. Ph.D. and putting glazed stickers of Mohandas Cowardchand Gandhi. Both Mohans turned out to be equally coward :) History does repeat itself.

All the fraud intellectuals are moving to Narmada valley :) News of the day :) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi will lead the procession :)

"He who labors diligently need never despair, for all things are accomplished by diligence and labor." -Menander

Britain owes India 521,000,000,000,000 pounds :)

US owes the world $13,462,000,000,000 :)

"It dose not occur to Balfour to let the Egyptian speak for himself, since presumably any Egyptian who would speak out is more likely to be the "agitator [who] wishes to raise difficulties"

la vie est trop courte pour s'ennuyer :)

The sewer is the conscience of the city.
Victor Hugo, Les Miserables, 1862

For Jharkhand's social activities-http://jharkhand-achara.org/

Al-Cuhal has drowned more men than sea :)

यद्यपि सुवर्णमयी लक्ष्मण लंका मयि ना रोचते

जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी

मौन से विस्फोट होता है

Equality maximizes creativity, hierarchy maximizes control...make a choice..

पुरुष का निर्माण यदि पुरुष करे तो वह त्रासक होता है और पुरुष का निर्माण यदि नारी करे तो लड़ाई में वह हार जाता है. समस्या प्रेम की हो अथवा युद्ध की, कठिनाइयाँ सर्वत्र समान हैं!
-दिनकर, उर्वशी से.

Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie.

Put your fav hypocrisy pronounced hypocracy (in India) at hypocracy.in .

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We need a theory of BOREDOM-NeuroScientist, Psychologists?!

We also could use a theory of HAPPENING i.e. how and why things happen-Emergent behavior folks??

One Billion overfed and one billion underfed
What we need is a nutrition bridge...

A government is like core of an electric motor, its torque is welfare of its people.

Communicate! It can't make things any worse.
-From Fortune on LINUX

सर्वे गुणाः कांचनं आश्रयन्ति-भर्तृहरि

All the qualities take shelter at gold.
-Bhartrihari

A Russian saying translated in english is correlated-When money talks, the truth is silent.

Visit www.jkmonitor.org www.ijaal.org, www.ijaal.in.

-Priya Ranjan
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