CHAPTER VI SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

Transcription

1 CHAPTER VI SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION This is the last chapter of the study in which the researcher summarizes the findings of the study along with policy measures. Road Safety management seeks to maintain and improve the existing safety of a road network by reducing crashes and providing a safe road environment for its users to enable its continued use in an effective and safe manner. It concerns the implementation of road safety policies, management and organisation in the authorities responsible for the reduction of road crashes and fatalities. Many theories have been used to provide a theoretical framework for road safety varying from those that believe that road crashes have no cause in the early century, to the accident proneness theory which based on psychological tests, suggested that some people were more prone to be involved in crashes than others (Greenwood and Yule, 1920); theories have progressed to the current system theory and behavioural theory. System theory believes that crashes are results of maladjustments in the interaction between components of complex systems, which means that more than one component exists for road crashes to occur and none of them is more crucial than the others (Elvik et al, 2012). The behavioural theory states that human risk assessment and acceptance are important when dealing with road crashes (Wilde, 1980). These theories, considered together with the growth of vehicle number throughout the years has resulted in road safety becoming a multi-disciplinary activity which takes place in a multisectoral context that needs careful management (ERSO, 2007). It is evident therefore that the road safety problem may be improved to a great extent when the various sectors can collaborate to tackle the problem (TRI, 2002). The World Health Organisation (2009) suggests that in practice, this can be partly achieved by the creation of a National Road Safety Council (NRSC), a permanent body which defines a country's path in terms of road safety needs and coordinates the actions between the main organisations that are involved at national level, in other words manage road safety. These organisations may be governmental, such as the transportation authorities, public health services and police, or be private such as insurance companies (PIARC, 2003). Often, the communication between these bodies is not ideal and this leads to poor management problems in addressing the development of road safety strategies and planning crucial elements in road safety management which are the focuses of the study. 175

2 Safety regulations covering the management of traffic are issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India and are codified in the Motor Vehicle Act of India. The Act is currently being amended with numerous new regulations that deal with several factors that are known to increase risk of crashes, such as exceeding speed limits, failing to use seat belts, improper seating of a child in vehicle, use of a mobile phone while driving, and failing to wear a helmet while driving or riding a motorcycle (Report of the Expert Committee, 2011). Motor-vehicle-safety standards are set by the CMVR Technical Standard Committee established by the Ministry of surface Transport. These standards are based on corresponding ECE regulations, EEC directives, or other relevant international references. Car and motorcycle standards are in conformity with most of the ECE regulations (except crash-impact regulations). However, most new models manufactured in India already conform to these standards as well. The Indian Roads Congress is the main technical body of highway engineers in the country. Highway-safety standards are set by committees of the Congress. They provide a national forum for subjects dealing with the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges, including technology, equipment, research, planning, finance, taxation, organisation, and related policy issues. The National Crime Records Bureau collates records of all traffic crashes as recorded by police departments throughout the country and publishes annual reports. The local police departments are responsible for implementing traffic-safety regulations as specified in the Motor Vehicle Act of India. However, the Central Government has no enforcement authority unless a state specifies the details of the particular traffic regulation. For example, it has been mandatory since 1988 for all riders of motorized two-wheelers to wear a helmet; installation of seat belts in cars became mandatory in 1994 and all front-seat occupants must use seat belts. However, many states are not yet enforcing these laws. On the other hand, vehicle-safety standards are enforced by the Central Government and therefore vehicles sold throughout the country conform to the same standards. Ministry of Health Government of India is involved in improving trauma care facilities in hospitals especially in major cities and in cities along major highways. 176

3 In this backdrop, the present study aims to ascertain the experiences and perceptions about road accidents among the road user; to study the knowledge and awareness of road users about road safety rules and regulations; to identify the effect of road safety compliances and government initiatives and enforcement on awareness of reasons for road accidents and to identify the road user s opinion on the role of mass media for creating road safety awareness. The study reviewed various studies and the important studies are Gkegkes et al. (2014); Brijs, et al. (2014); Leijdesdorff, et al. (2014); Sutlovic, et al. (2014); Orsi, et al. (2014); Bačkalić, et al. (2014); Santamariña-Rubio et al. (2014); Goh, et al. (2014); Dawson, et al. (2014); Van Raemdonck and Macharis, (2014); Wallington, et al. (2014); Zou (2014); Mooren et al. (2014); Musselwhite, et al. (2014); Goh et al. (2014); Liu et al. (2014); Nachimuthu, et al. (2013); Shruthi (2013) Komada et al. (2013); Dhamaniya (2013); Sundar and Ghate (2013); Russo et.al (2013); Grimm and Treibich (2013) Siddiqui et al. (2013); Mahalakshmy et al. (2011); Verma, et al. (2011); Madubueze, et al. (2011); Sehgal, et al. (2010); Horst Schulze, Ingo Koßmann. (2010); Gull and Mogali (2009); Liu et al. (2008); Rakhi Dandona, G. Anil Kumar and Lalit Dandona. (2005). The third chapter of the study deals with ways and means of approaching research problem of the study as the study is analytical in nature and depends on both primary and secondary data. The primary data for the study collected from the respondents through well structured pre-tested interview schedule from 1050 respondents who are selected through purposive sampling technique from 7 RTO offices in Kancheepuram district such as Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Tambaram, Sriperumbudur, Meenambakkam, Maduranthakam and Sholinganullur. The fourth Chapter of the study enumerates the road safety management practices in Tamil Nadu. The fifth chapter of the study deals with data analysis and interpretation. 177

4 6.1 Key Findings of the Study The key findings of the study are summarized as follows: Age wise distribution of the respondents It is found out that the young age group belongs to the age group participated as 33 percent along with more than 30 percent of the age group belongs to 26 to 30 and over all more number of young adults are participated in the study Sex wise distribution of the respondents It is found out that motor vehicle driving is mostly dominated by the male.thus, 90 percent of the Male respondents participated in this study rather than female counter part who participated percent Educational Status of the respondents The results indicate that mostly educated youths are participated in the study, thus, nearly 36 percent of respondents completed elementary and higher secondary education. And 31.7 percent of the respondents of the study are Under Graduates. Followed by this, 13.6 percent of the respondents are Post Graduates of various disciplines. The road users of 8.4 percent are diploma and ITI holders Marital Status of the respondents study. Both married and unmarried respondents are almost equally participated in the Status of the Monthly Income of the respondents In the study mostly the middle income group is dominated.they constituted in to 58 percent of the respondents and their monthly income is less than Rs and lesser percentage of respondents of higher income group is participated in the survey percent respondents are unwilling to state their monthly income Occupational status of the respondents Among the respondents 35.7 percent of the respondents are non-government employees and almost same percent of the employees i.e., 35.9 percent of the respondents working in other sectors especially agriculture and transports and logistics. A less percentage of professionals like doctors, Engineers i.e. 7 percent is also 178

5 participated in the study. And both government employees and business men are participated equally i.e. 7.5 percent each in the survey. About 9 percent of the respondents are also unwilling to state their occupational status Possession of the Vehicles A majority of the respondent s i.e.55.7 percent possess two wheelers and 29.5 percent of the respondents opined that they do not possess any vehicles. The four wheelers are possessed by 14.8 percent of the respondents Possession of valid driving license It was found that 80 percent of the respondents of the study possess valid driving license Method of Learn motor vehicle driving It is found that percent of the respondents are learned the driving through driving schools and percent of respondents learned the driving with friends and through self-learning method percent respondents learned driving. With experienced driver 5 percent respondents learned the driving and least percent of the respondents learned the driving through some other methods Type of vehicle often driven by the respondents It is found out that 72.3 percent respondents often drive two wheelers and 27.1 percent drive the LMV personal vehicle and LMV commercial vehicles are driven by 7 percent respondents and by 2.1 percent driven HMV passenger vehicles The reasons for driving the vehicles It is identified that percent of the respondents are self drivers of the vehicles and percent respondents are driving the vehicles for professional reasons. For any other reasons 2.50 percent respondents are driving the vehicles Years of driving the vehicle 40.4 percent of the respondents are having less number of years of driving experience i.e. 3 years and 3 6 years of driving experience is acquired by 30.3 percent respondents. Nearly 80 percent of the respondents are possessing driving experience. 179

6 Respondents met with an accident It is found that 33 percent of respondents are met with accidents Number of times the respondents meet with an accident 33.5 percent of the respondents are met with the accidents. Among them, 20.7 percent of the respondents met with an accident once and 9.1 percent met with accidents twice, followed by this 2.2 percent thrice met with the accidents The reasons for accident occurrence 37.3 percent of the respondents are opined that sudden coming of animals are the reasons for the accidents. Followed by this, 34.2 percent of the respondents opined drunken driving is the major reason for road accidents along with distraction of the vehicle driving is also the reason for the accidents by 10.9 percent of the respondents and all these three reasons are opined by a total of 82 percent of the respondents The accident results Both the death of the others and grievous injury to others are opined by 68.7 percent of the respondents. Minor injuries are opined by 30.9 percent of the respondents along with less percent respondents opined the loss of property Punishment for the Driver who made severe accident It is identified that 55.7 percent of the respondents are opined that the drivers who made severe accidents must be punished. However 21.9 percent of the respondents opined that the drivers are need not to be punished and the same percent of the respondents are also i.e percent not answered to the query The Duration to cancel the driving license The permanent cancellation of driving license is opined by only 8.1 percent of the respondents and 26 percent of the respondents are opined only cancellation of the driving license for three months and 19.3 percent of the respondents are opined that cancellation of the license for a period of six months. 180

7 Identification mechanisms of accident accused driver by the police are correct. 53 percent of the respondents are opined that the mechanisms followed by the police are correct to identify the accident accused. But 10.8 percent of the respondents opined that the identification mechanisms are incorrect Other reasons for accidents 61.4 respondents opined that drivers are the major reasons for the accidents and 8 percent explained as the conditions of vehicle are cause for accidents. Road conditions are also the reasons for accidents as explained by 15.1 percent of the respondents. Other reasons such as bad weather and pedestrians are explained by 5.6 percent of the respondents The time of the Majority of the road accidents happens The 75.5 percent of the respondents are opined the road accidents are mostly taken place during night time and nearly 25 percent i.e percent of the respondents opined that the accidents mostly happened during day time Road users expect that the other road users will take care of their safety A majority of the respondents i.e., 78.1 percent accepted the fact. And 2.9 percent of the respondents are not accepting the fact Findings from Cluster Analysis The cluster center ratio i.e. 3:1 is the clear indication that the accidents are mostly occurring because ofcell phone driving, Over Speed driving, Drunken drive, Violations/negligence of road rules, Rash and negligent driving and Wrong over taking. The cluster center ratio is 1:1.6, it indicates that identified factors such as Due to fatigue/sleeping, Lack of road sense among the road users, Animal crossing and over loading of goods/passengers is also causing road accidents Findings for Component Analysis In the PCA output table it can be seen that here are 6 variables are loaded with 1,778 variance with the percentage of variance. The high loadings of the variables indicate that the respondents are opined the importance of these factors are Professional 181

8 training to the drivers, Strict enforcement of traffic rules, Improving the road conditions, Providing pedestrian facilities and Controlling the speed of the vehicles Recording of the traffic violations on driving license Though the other variables are loaded in the second and fourth components but they are also important factors to prevent the accidents as perceived by the respondents of the study. Thus, the cancellations of the license of the faulty drivers and increase the awareness of road safety rules among the publics are important to prevent the road accidents Knowledge and awareness of road safety regulations Awareness on road signals Among 1050 respondents from 7 RTO regions, only 319 respondents i.e. one fourth of the respondents are aware of the total number of hand signals to be used by any driver Awareness on showing the hand signals 25.9 percent of the respondents confused and opined that both the hands can be used for signaling percent of the respondents know the right answer that the right hand is used for showing hand signals Awareness of hand signal to turn right In order to turn right while driving the vehicle the procedure is extend the right arm with palm of the hand turn to the front. It is found out that only 47 percent of the respondents know this fact and remaining 53 percent of the respondents are unaware of this Awareness of hand signal to turn left Only 33 percent of the respondents are aware the left turning procedures. That is Extend right arm and rotate it in an anti-clock wise direction. Remaining 67% percent respondents are unknown this procedures. 182

9 Awareness to change the vehicle position (right or left) while driving what should be followed To change the vehicle position (right or left) while driving it should be followed that See the following vehicle position through rear view mirror well in advance say 30 feet and show the signal and then turn or change the vehicle position. But it found out that only 41 percent of the respondents are known this procedure to turn the vehicle positions. This procedure is known as MSM Awareness of MSM It is found that only 44 percent of the respondents are known to the MSM and many are unaware of this essential road safety procedure Respondents strictly following MSM while driving It is found out that 45.5 percent of the respondents are following MSM procedures while driving the vehicle. Since many are unknown to this procedure, about 25 percent of the respondents are unanswered to the query and 30 percent of the respondents are opined that they are not following the MSM Road safety awareness programs through mass media In the dendrogram at the 60 percent distance level, two interpretable clusters are formed. The cluster center ratio i.e.1.2: 1 indicates that the respondents know the importance of the identified factors for creating awareness about the road safety measures. But they are not felt these Medias are good enough to spread the awareness among the public. It is also identified that the stage play, documentary films, and broachers are less effective mass media for creating road safety awareness. Thus, the cluster I is aptly named as Less effective mass media for road safety awareness The cluster-ii center ratio is 4:1. It indicates that two media such as TV and News papers are more effective Medias as opined by the respondents to spread road safety awareness among the public. It is evident that these Medias are the Medias for continuous communications to the mass in every day; the public can access or view these media in every day. Hence they are really more effective medias when compare with the other medias. Thus, this cluster can be called as More effective mass media for road safety awareness. 183

10 Suggestions to improve the road safety MDS analysis reveals that all the 8 suggestions are plotted in the positive quarters of the diagram in the sense that the respondents are strongly opined that all these variables are important to ensure road safety among the road users and suggestions such as in case of severe accident, the driving license to be cancelled and existing rules are sufficient to reduce the rate of road accidents are opined highly by the respondents. It is also identified that all the respondents of the study are having uniformity in the importance of the factors such as existing rules are insufficient to punish the accident making drivers, and certification for the condition of the private vehicles is required every year. The existing fine amount for the offenders who are not wearing seat belt / Helmet may be increased. Necessary to create road safety awareness among the road users/public. Incorporate road safety education from elementary education to higher education. The plotting of these variables indicates that though the respondents are agreeing these variables but quiet number of respondents is also not accepting them. From these results it can be interpreted that quiet a number of respondents are opined that the existing rules are insufficient to punish the accident making drivers along with not favoring the increment in the fine amount for the offenders who are not wearing seat belt / Helmet. 6.2 Suggestions Based on the results the following suggestions are made. These suggestions are classified under various headings and presented as follows: Suggestions to improve road safety education The results of the study clearly indicate that majority of the respondents are unaware or ignorant to the road safety measures even though they are literates. Hence, it is right time to improve the road safety education in the following lines: Inclusion of road safety rules in school education. "Government needs to focus particularly in the younger generations to inculcate or respect for traffic rules. If it implants the basics of road safety in the minds of children, it can surely arrest the increasing trend of road accidents, "A proper and practical road safety curriculum should 184

11 be developed for this purpose as it will have a long lasting impact on the minds of our young children. It is suggested to incorporate the road safety education at least up to the Under Graduation level as followed by few of the western countries or developed countries. If it is introduced at the UG level along with implementing in the school curriculum will have strong bearing on the minds of each citizens of the country about the road safety aspects. If any Under Graduate passed with the road safety education as one of the subject at UG level, in the event of introduced as one of the subject in their UG, it is suggested to the government to exempt them from appearing Learners Licence test so as to encourage them to know or aware of the road safety measures in their young age. In India, driving licenses are issued to both literates and illiterates. In this context, it is suggested to monitor the Driving schools by the RTOs and instruct the driving schools to train the drivers with modern road safety equipments as it has been done in the developed countries. Subsequently, strict adherence of procedures in issuing driving license is also to be followed in every Regional Transport Offices who issue driving licence. It is important to impart safe and defensive driving to the trainees who are learning the driving of all types of vehicles and this will reduce committing grave mistakes while driving which results in to minimize the accidents. Both Government and NGOs are using different kinds of mass media for creating road safety awareness. It is opined by the respondents that TV and news papers are more effective media to propagate the road safety knowledge and awareness to the public. But even among these media, mostly they are creating awareness on wearing of helmets and seat belts and avoiding drunken drive. No doubt which are essential road safety awareness but along with these the mass medias need to propagate the methods to use the road by different kinds of road users along with adhering the signals on the roads and using of signaling procedures while driving the vehicle, also with the importance of the defensive and safety driving and so on. 185

12 Effective Road Safety Awareness Programmes should be conducted at all levels by NGO s, fleet operators association, educational institutions, industries, hospitals, states and national highways authorities, police and transport department every month. The Government of Tamil Nadu recently created Parent Teacher Association for transports in order to check the fitness of the vehicle which are carrying school children. This association may be asked to conduct various programs road safety awareness in each school at least once in a month Suggestions to improve the road safety enforcement It is the role of enforcement officials to reduce road traffic accidents by ensuring that road users follow the traffic rules and regulations. There are various tools and methods available for enforcement to make more effective.government should use all the modern equipments. On the basis of these, the following suggestions are made: A separate enforcement wing has to be established in every RTO to implement strict motor vehicles Act and traffic rules. It is an urgent need to develop an Infrastructure in vulnerable road conditions. These infrastructures are nothing but interceptor vehicles with all equipment such as breath analyzers, speed laser guns and video recording of offences etc to control and monitor the road user behaviors. Provision of equipment and vehicles to the enforcement officials are very important to handle the various situations or emergency if any during the enforcement duties. The enforcement wing needs to be upgraded in line with technological developments on enforcement infrastructures. It may be entrusted with the following duties. Strict enforcement on rash driving, crossing speed limits, signal violations, drunk-driving violations, cell phone driving and pedestrian crossing violations Enforcing compulsory use of helmets and seat belts Controlling and directing the non-motorized traffic to ensure their safe movement; Guiding and helping the road users unfamiliar with the specific rules and regulations; 186

13 Ensuring pedestrians/cyclists use such facilities like pedestrian crossings, subways etc. Helping the disabled road users without compromising their safety Regular Training programs are to be imparted to the enforcement officials for technically qualified enforcement officials but also public friendly. These types of officials not only enforce the road safety and also they will guide and educate or create awareness on road safety measures to the road users. The offenders of road safety rules are fined with minimum amount which is not enough to make them to follow strictly the road safety rules. As opined by the respondents of the study it should be increased into many folds so as to curb the traffic rules violations Suggestions to improve Road safety Engineering Road environment design needs to be taken care to avoid the mistakes of road users to reduce the chances of making an accident. This is being taken care at the time of road designing phase by forming a design committee which comprises of RTOs, High way Engineers, Police officials, people representatives to ensure the practical applicability of road design to reduce the number of accidents. Safe road design should have the following aspects to avoid confusions and misleading to commit mistakes. The important aspects or key principles are: Removal of misleading signs or placement of additional signs so as to follow the effective road use to avoid accidents. Provisions of advanced warning signs and markings guides for careful driving on the road Drivers and pedestrians must be given consistent guidance by design, signs, markings, Channelization etc. Systematic identification and treatment of black spot locations can improve road safety substantially. The remedial measures are usually low cost and countries with limited resources should initially consider such schemes. Traffic calming is a way of reducing vehicle speeds by self-enforcing traffic engineering methods and is commonly 187

14 applied in urban and residential road safety management and in the road safety management of through routes in towns and villages. Highway authorities should monitor road by conducting accident analysis and remedial measures to be taken to improve the conditions and provide additional infrastructure like erecting important sign boards, high mask lights, speed breakers and signals. In case of vehicle design make as mandatory for all the four wheelers and heavy vehicles to provide with ABS technology to get more break efficiency at the time of applying break at high speed and making of sudden breaks to avoid accidents.the exterior designs of all the vehicles should be designed to impose little damage in the event of collision by eliminating projecting parts and so on. The inner design of all types of four and heavy vehicles are provided with Airbag and other modern technologies to ensure the safety of the passengers and drivers of the vehicles at the time of accidents Suggestions to the Government The governments are to take initiations to deal with a road accidents with the establishment of a separate road accidents investigation wing in every Regional TransportOffice with a budgetary provisions to deal with the accidents situationsand this wing should investigate the accidents and devise a long term plans to control the accidents. The present accidents investigations modalities are finding fault with always drivers of the HMV and there is no systematic methods to find the defaulters. So a separate wing as said above has to be established in every Regional TransportOffice along with police and technical officials by devising the new identification mechanisms. The accident information recording system functioning in each district under the control of police need to coordinate with Regional TransportOffices and highway officials in each district of the country to devise action plans and policies to prevent the accidents. A vast majority of the traffic in Indian towns and cities is constituted by Pedestrians and their rights and responsibilities have yet not been incorporated in the traffic regulations. This has been done in many developed countries. In contrast, the 188

15 Indian Motor Vehicles Act is silent on this important aspect. There is need to include a provision in the Indian M.V. Act to define the rights and responsibilities of pedestrians. It is right time to the Government to enact a separate road safety Act not only motorized vehicles but also giving importance non-motorized vehicles and pedestrian to ensure road safety to al road users so as to reduce the accidents and the Act has the provision to ensure creation of awareness and knowledge on road safety among the public. Road Safety education may be introduced at school and college level to inculcate the road safety in the minds of younger generation Suggestions to create road safety awareness among road users Designing effective propagation methods of road rules among the road users by using TV, Internet and news papers since these are opined by the respondents as more effective media to create awareness on road safety. The propagation methods are to be targeted to pedestrians, motorcyclists, heavy vehicle, auto rickshaws and cyclists. A separate effective TV programs are developed to deal with the Driver distractions like use of mobile phones while driving, listening music and so on. The importance of the Helmet wearing and usage of seat belt are to be propagated to all types of motorcyclists and LMV. Create awareness on offenses that while not inherently dangerous but do not facilitate smooth movement of traffic, i.e., illegal parking of buses Carrying overload in Heavy goods vehicles, carrying overload of person in passengers vehicles and unloading of passengers on the roads and junctions instead of service roads Suggestions to improve the Emergency care Timely and proper treatment of road casualties is essential for reducing road accident death. Driver education on first aid procedures and correct transportation of road accident victims within golden house are important, as the first hour of accident is called as Golden hour to save the life of victim. Effective emergency service utilization makes in reducing the fatalities. The accident victims are to be treated with in the Golden hour but the passerby, onlookers and other people are afraid of legal and court procedures that prevent them to 189

16 help the victims. At present the public who are helping the victims are not included in the above said procedures and this present rule is not aware by the road users. So awareness must be created to the public and road users about these recent procedures. This awareness will definitely make them to help the road accident victims in the crucial hours Suggestions From the point of view of the respondents It is also identified that all the respondents of the study are having uniformity in the importance of the factors such as existing rules are sufficient to punish the accident making drivers and Necessary to create road safety awareness among the road users/public and there should be a broad casting of the use of different kind of signs that are used in the roads for preventing accidentscarelessness of children and lack of awareness among them are also reasons for accidents on road. It is the duties of the parents to teach their child to walk on footpath, encourage them to use subways, zebra crossing etc. Teaching is also carried out about possible driving mistakes like losing attentions, cell phone driving, aggressive driving and ignoring essential auto maintenance etc. The higher the speed the greater the stopping distance required, and hence the increased risk of a crash. As more kinetic energy must be observed during a high speed impact, there is a higher risk of injury should a crash occur. So speed management is a very important tool for improving road safety. Hence the adverse effect of over speeding must be taught to the road users. 6.3 Conclusion Economic growth of nations largely depends on better road infrastructure facilities. The developed countries thus have attained rapid economic growth due to developing better road facilities which in turn facilitates free movement of goods and passengers. Developed countries have not only concentrated on the road development but also equally pay attention to road safety measures. The proper movements of people and goods on different kind of roads are known as traffic management. So, need for traffic regulations and enforcement is essential throughout the world and it is an important part of traffic management. Ironically, this sector is also the most unsafe, 190

17 responsible for deaths and injuries of millions of people, especially the young working population throughout the world. In India, the numbers of road users are more and not properly following road safety measures. The unawareness of the road safety measures and negligence of the traffic rules, reckless driving and not considering equal of the fellow road users are the major reasons for road accidents in the Indian context. However, road conditions and vehicle conditions are also the reasons but the above said reasons are dominant than these aspects. Further, present penalties for the traffic violations are very less and do not having impact on the careless behavior of the drivers. In certain offences which are dangerous in nature, need to introduce confiscation of vehicle for certain days for example driving dangerously, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, reckless driving, driving a vehicle not in a road worthy condition, carrying passengers in goods vehicles, over speeding, over loading, unauthorized alteration. In the case of accidents caused death of others the driving license of the driver shall be cancelled for at least more than one year. Quality of driving school education needs to be improved by maintaining the standards. Establishment, maintenance and inspection of driving schools to be given priority by implementing the standards set in the motor vehicles act and make every driving school with imparting road safety education to the public who are coming for getting the driving license. Indian road-safety management is rather advanced in terms of motor-vehicle standards, and there are positive developments in planning new road-traffic regulations. However, there has been a delay in establishing the National Road Safety and Traffic Management Board. Such an organization, if given sufficient power to design and implement road-safety strategy and action plans with appropriate tools for coordination and monitoring road safety, could substantially strengthen road-safety activities. Research centers dedicated to road safety at universities could support monitoring, research, and development of road safety. At the intervention level, there are many areas that could benefit from effective road-safety measures. Specifically, the study identified the following promising areas for intervention in India: (1) pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-motorists in urban areas that account for high fatality rates in urban areas, (2) pedestrians, other non-motorists, and slow vehicles on national highways that represent 191

18 approximately 20-40% of fatalities on highways, (3) motorcycles and small cars in urban areas (motorcyclists represent approximately 25% of urban fatalities), (4) overinvolvement of trucks and buses in fatal crashes, (5) nighttime driving (visibility, alcohol, and fatigue), and (6) wrong-way drivers on divided highways (involving 19% of all fatalities on four-lane, divided highways). In addition, strengthened enforcement of existing road-safety measures (e.g., speed control, drinking and driving law, use of seat belts, motorcycle helmets) would be beneficial. At the results level, there are no specific road-safety targets. In addition, collection of safety-indicator data is limited. Since road and traffic engineering should be responsibility of the municipal and highway authorities, traffic control, traffic enforcement and accident investigation should be the responsibility of the policy, responsibility for post accident management should rest with the police and health authorities jointly. Responsibility of the Transport Department should not be limited to driver and vehicle regulation and licensing, but should also include the overall coordination of road safety management including regularly updating the legislation. Education and promoting awareness should be the combined responsibility of all stakeholders including the automobile and insurance industries, other members of civil society, as well as the police and transport departments. Currently, the responsibility for road safety management is highly fragmented and diffused. With hardly any coordination among agencies much of the traffic control strategies adopted in India are far below International Standards. 6.4 Scope for Future Research The following are to be considered as scope for future research work. The scope of the study could be extended to other districts of Tamil Nadu Road user s knowledge and awareness are dynamic and ever changing. Hence periodical studies are to be carried out in different parts of the country so as to ensure road safety measures. The road crash reduction effectiveness per road crash type may be used for calculating the economic analysis equations, rather than the effectiveness for all crash types, which is currently being used. The model may be developed further to address different types of road users. 192

19 The economic impact of delays caused road safety measure, such as roundabouts or traffic lights, may be added to the economic assessment equations. The economic impact of road safety measures on road users or on the environment may be added to the economic assessment calculations. 193