Road Transportation Safety Initiative by NSC, India

摘要

Losses due to Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) are a burning issue in the world today, especially in the developing countries. 1. 2 million people are known to die in road accidents worldwide each year. Millions of others sustain injuries, with some suffering permanent disabilities. 85% of these fatalities occur in the developing countries and 67% of the accident victims are in the age group of below 45years. By the year 2020, RTIs are predicted to be the third leading contributor to the global burden of disease and injury. The economic cost of road crashes and injuries is estimated to be 1% of gross national product (GNP) in low-income countries and 1. 5% in middle- income countries. Thus the economic and social losses incurred by the community are immense. With this background, the National Safety Council of India (NSCI) has launched a National Initiative on Road Transportation Safety. Under the Initiative it has been decided to target the goods transportation vehicles which contribute to 34% of the road accidental deaths in India. A framework of cooperation for implementing the Initiative as a pilot project has been drawn up. The framework chalks out the plan of cooperation among NSCI, Corporates and Transporters. NSCI will play the role of a Coordinator, National Resource Centre and Catalyst to promote and help the Transporters through the Corporates in improving safety standards of their transportation activity. This pilot project is being implemented, to start with, in one of the Industrial Pockets and then it will be replicated on the National level in similar pockets. NSCI will also be providing the necessary technical and training assistance to the key players in the field. It will be complimenting other institutes working in the field of Road Safety. In the second phase NSCI also plans to rope in Oil companies and major goods vehicle manufacturers for creating awareness among users through the Petrol Pumps and Dealer Showrooms, respectively. A package of services is designed for this purpose. NSCI feels that over a period of time, through a sustained campaign involving the Corporates and Transporters of goods, safety scenario in Road Transportation in India will be improved.