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Unscientific Highway Infrastructure: A Cause of Accidents - Coggle Diagram
Unscientific Highway Infrastructure:
A Cause of Accidents
Context
completion certificates had been issued even before the completion of works ‘up to the standards and specifications’
NHAI raised the subject of premature issuance of completion certificates for national highway works
Status of National highways
and deaths
Record 37 kms per day
35 percent of all road deaths
NHs constitute a mere 2 percent of the country’s road network
What was the circular issued by NHAI?
Circular was not taken with due seriousness by some authorized engineers.
Items such as road shoulders, road signs, markings, dressing of slopes, and road furniture were explicitly mentioned.
Issuance of completion certificate prematurely
NHAI has now warned the delinquents that such behavior would be treated as a serious dereliction of duty
Issues with National Highways
Insufficient maintenance by contractors
Inadequate budgetary allocation
Higher toll but poor roads
NITI Aayog’s acknowledgement of poor infrastructure
Rains and potholes
Various steps taken by India
National Road Safety Board was constituted
But its implementation by State governments is not uniform or complete
World Bank has approved a $250 million loan for India State Support Programme for Road Safety.
India amended the Motor Vehicles Act in 2019
Reforms suggested by Sundar Committee (2007)
There is little clarity on whether the States have formed such units to aid traffic investigation
Insurance industry has pressed for these to accurately determine fault
India lacked a technically competent investigation arm that could determine the cause of accidents
Scientific investigation, perceptions usually guide the fixing of liability
Rajasekaran vs Union of India Case
Way forward
Strict enforcement of traffic rules
Encouraging better road behaviour
Crackdown on driving under influence of alcohol and drugs
Ensuring road worthiness of a vehicle
Better road design, maintenance and warning signage
Better first aid and paramedic care
Road safety education