Careless driving and reckless driving citations are often confused. Careless driving is probably better know as Negligent driving
Niraj Krishna
Most people always seem to be in a hurry to get to their destination. This impatience is almost palpable on roads, translating to an increasing problem of road accidents in India. Reckless driving, over-speeding, poorly maintained roads, and inadequate road safety regulations and enforcement are all responsible for road accidents in India. Acknowledging this concern, several efforts are being made by the Indian government to improve road safety.
Since the implementation of amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act, a peculiar sense of chaos prevails across the entire country. Road accidents pose a significant challenge for the government to control. Even today, the highest number of fatalities in our country result from reckless driving. It is true that the number of vehicles on Indian roads has reached alarming levels, prompting ongoing consideration of measures to control the situation. Additionally, the trend of reckless driving among youth, coupled with a disregard for traffic rules, has led to a continuous increase in accidents. Consequently, accidents have become a daily occurrence, surpassing the number of deaths due to serious illnesses, according to government statistics. Each year, road hit-and-run cases alone result in the deaths of 50,000 people.
Careless driving and reckless driving citations are often confused. Careless driving is probably better know as Negligent driving. A person is deemed guilty of negligent driving if the person drives in a careless or imprudent manner that endangers property or human life. Reckless driving is a major moving traffic violation that generally consists in driving a vehicle with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. Reckless driving is a more severe offense that negligent or careless driving. Driving a motorcycle while pulling a wheelie could be deemed Reckless driving.
The central government is consistently modifying existing rules and laws related to traffic and introducing new laws in this regard. As part of these efforts, the government has recently passed some new laws in Parliament, increasing penalties for cases involving hit-and-run and accidents. According to the new rules, if a driver involved in an accident flees the scene without informing the police, they could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 7 lakh rupees. Previously, the provision for such cases was a two-year sentence, with bail available from the police station.
This law has sparked protests nationwide, with not only truck drivers but also taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers expressing dissatisfaction. It is noteworthy that this law will apply equally to private vehicle owners, whether they own cars, bikes, or scooters.
In reality, this law is a double-edged sword. If a driver stops at the scene for assistance after an accident, there is a risk of being attacked by a crowd. Often, in such cases, the crowd becomes violent. If the driver flees to avoid such an attack, according to the law, they could face a 10-year imprisonment. While this may have a significant impact on the individual’s life due to an accident on the road, it is important to welcome the government’s initiative to change the law, as hit-and-run incidents have become increasingly common. The fear instilled by this law in people’s minds may also encourage individuals to think about helping at the time of an unfortunate incident.
The increasing number of road accidents in the country is a cause for concern for everyone. Common practices such as not wearing seat belts, not wearing helmets while riding, excessive self-confidence, and driving under the influence of alcohol have become widespread. A common sight nowadays is young drivers confidently navigating busy roads, holding their mobile phones in one hand and the steering wheel in the other, engaging in conversations while driving.
The Union Transport Minister, Nitin Gadkari, himself acknowledges that the country witnesses approximately 4.5 crore road accidents every year, resulting in the deaths of around 2 lakh people and injuries to over 4 lakh individuals. According to a report by the International Road Traffic Organization, every year, 12.5 lakh people lose their lives in road accidents worldwide. While only 3% of the total number of vehicles in the world are in India, the country’s share in road accidents and fatalities is 12.06%. Despite the annual reports issued by the National Crime Records Bureau, there is little or no public discussion on this matter.
The World Health Organization aims to reduce the number of deaths and injuries from road accidents by half by the year 2030. The Indian government, however, aims to achieve this goal by 2025, just five years from now. Despite these goals, road accidents continue to plague the country, and there seems to be little progress in implementing effective measures.
People in rural areas face risks when crossing roads due to the absence of adequate footbridges or underpasses. Stray animals also increase the danger, and lane discipline is often ignored. However, the administration seems reluctant to conduct road safety surveys and analysis to implement corrective measures.
Urban road systems like those designed for motorized vehicles such as flyovers and cloverleaves often neglect pedestrians, cyclists, and non-motorized transport. Even public transport buses are not given due attention. The construction of skywalks and pedestrian overpasses is often delayed. Moreover, where they exist, their usage is limited due to design flaws or location-related difficulties. Municipal administrations often prioritize aesthetics such as selfie points, decorative railings, furniture, and fountains along roads rather than focusing on their practical utility and maintenance. Although cyclists are still prevalent, there is a lack of dedicated cycling tracks in Indian cities. Cycling is a daily means of transportation in Indian cities, yet proper infrastructure for cycling remains insufficient.
Now is the right time to stop viewing road safety merely as a matter of law and order. It is a subject related to development and health. The World Health Organization categorizes the significant number of deaths and disabilities resulting from road accidents as a major concern in public health. Like any other health issue, the risks of this ailment can be identified and managed through the recognition and diagnosis of vulnerable factors. These include poorly engineered roads, inadequate maintenance and operational conditions, indifference in enforcing rules (lane driving, speed limits, driving under the influence, mandatory use of seat belts and helmets, etc.), and timely access to life-saving emergency treatment.
In the past few decades, there has been extensive expansion in the road network—expressways, highways, and various intra-city infrastructure such as bridges, flyovers, and service lanes. However, the implementation of road safety measures has not kept pace with the expansion of road networks. For instance, in an attempt to reduce travel time by increasing the speed of cars and trucks, expressways have been constructed in many places by merging main roads, limiting the number of lanes. Although there is a speed limit on these roads, people often drive faster, increasing the likelihood of accidents.
Due to technological advancements in vehicle manufacturing, the speed of vehicles has significantly increased. Vehicles capable of reaching speeds of 150-160 km/h are now available in India. When drivers are operating vehicles at such high speeds on highways without separate lanes for vehicles of different speeds and with the potential for sudden obstacles, maintaining control over vehicles becomes nearly impossible. Control over the speed of vehicles is crucial. Whether it involves imposing restrictions on vehicle manufacturers or monitoring high-speed vehicles through cameras and shutting them down, measures need to be taken.
In case of a natural disaster or a mechanical failure, such as brake failure, assigning blame to someone may not be appropriate. Most road accidents are human-made. It is essential to ensure strict compliance with all rules of road construction and entry regulations to prevent the majority of road accidents. It is crucial to understand the primary reasons behind road accidents. To prevent accidents, it is necessary to implement mandatory vigilance throughout the entire route. It is also true that expressways in India are not as wide as they should be according to international standards, while the vehicles running on them are of international standards. Therefore, it is essential for drivers to be aware of the speed of international standard vehicles and their driving patterns, which is not common in India.
To promote safe travel on roads, it is necessary to leverage technology and utilize artificial intelligence. The installation of CCTV networks, connected through Wi-Fi to a centralized monitoring system, should be expanded to provide continuous monitoring and analysis in different zones or sectors. Additionally, the process of manufacturing tires should be aligned with international standards. Several changes, such as mandatory seat belt reminders, and the use of airbags for individuals sitting with the driver, have been implemented by the government.
Blaming only one party for road accidents would be incorrect. A comprehensive perspective needs to be adopted. Running public awareness campaigns with the entire civil society is necessary to provide information on the technical quality and risks of the roads on which people travel. Driver negligence, such as over speeding, continuous driving, and substance abuse, is mostly responsible for accidents. However, there is also a need to focus on the design of roads, maintenance, and overall infrastructure to address managerial and administrative shortcomings.
In addition to government efforts to reduce accidents, everyone must adhere to all rules while traveling on the roads. Besides governmental initiatives to reduce road accidents, everyone needs to come together and turn it into a public movement for the government to achieve its road safety goals and protect the lives of citizens.
For decades, governments have done lip service in the name of safety. Road Safety Week, like any other, starts and ends with superficial discussions. The process of formulating the National Road Safety Policy began in 2005. It took ten years to create the policy, and one of the suggestions was the establishment of the National Road Safety Board for the implementation of this policy. By the end of 2021, a notification for its formation was issued. According to the proposed outline, it appears that the board has been formed as a department under the Ministry of Transport. Nevertheless, it is pertinent to note that there is still a long way to go in terms of its implementation.
Traffic rules are not designed to benefit the government but to ensure the safety of all road users, including drivers, riders, and pedestrians. Adhering to traffic rules can prevent accidents, reduce injuries and fatalities, and promote a safe driving culture.’ It is the responsibility of every road user to follow traffic rules and contribute to making the roads safer for everyone.
