Road Safety-World Day of Remembrance

On the third Sunday of November each year, the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDR) is observed. In order to honour the suffering of all impacted victims, families, and communities, it is important to recall the many millions who have been killed or gravely injured on the world’s roadways.

It is also a time to show support for the families, friends, and other loved ones who have been impacted by a car accident, as well as to promote the rights of road accident victims globally. It is also a day to express gratitude to emergency personnel who deal with traffic accidents and to think on the enormous toll these accidents, along with the injuries and deaths they cause, exact on global economies, healthcare systems, and most importantly, people.

According to the WHO’s Global Status Report on Road Safety, which was released in December 2018, there are now 1.35 million fatalities caused by traffic accidents per year. The greatest cause of death for those aged 5 to 29 is increasingly traffic-related injuries. 

Justice is highlighted on the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in 2022. The legal system includes traffic law enforcement, detailed collision investigations to determine whether a crime was committed and to prevent a repeat, criminal prosecution when necessary, and civil damages. When implemented seriously, fairly, and consistently, such a system is what victims of traffic accidents who have been hurt or lost a family member because of someone breaking the law or being negligent deserve and wish for. It also plays a significant role in prevention and guarantees that the lessons from their tragedies are applied in the future to prevent similar incidents.

Causes of Road Accidents

  • Over-speeding and careless driving were the two major causes of road accidents that claims the most lives.
  • Driving while drunk increases the danger of a collision that ends in death or serious injuries. This risk is increased by the use of any psychoactive chemical or narcotic.
  • Non-use of seat belts, kid restraints, and motorcycle helmets is another big cause. Correct helmet use can reduce the risk of fatal injuries by 42% and the risk of head injuries by 69%.
  • There are numerous different distractions that might affect judgement. Mobile phone distraction is a serious issue hampering road safety.
  • Unsafe road infrastructure is also a big cause of road accidents. The safety of a road can be significantly impacted by its design. All road users’ safety should ideally be taken into consideration while designing roads.

India currently holds the third-place spot on the list of nations with the highest number of fatal road accidents, with more than 420 people losing their lives there every day. In India, there were 4, 03,116 road accidents in 2021 that resulted in 1, 55,622 fatalities and 3, 71,884 injuries, according to an analysis of data from the National Crime Records Bureau.

Although there has been an increase in safety awareness in recent years, it is concerning to note that the number of fatalities from traffic accidents rose by 16.8% from 1,33,201 in 2020 to 1,55,622 in 2021. In addition, there was a 13.6% rise in the overall number of traffic accidents between 2020 and 2021.

Rapid reductions in fatalities and injuries can result from better traffic law enforcement. Driver behaviour can be significantly altered by requiring them to drive under the speed limit, looking out for cyclists and pedestrians, putting on seatbelts, abstaining from driving while intoxicated, and utilising kid safety seats.

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