New Traffic Rules 2019 A step ahead or backwards

Most of the accidents in India are a result of over-speeding and violating the basic road rules. Though, not the complete solution, but new traffic rules and increased penalties can contribute a great deal to improve safety on the road.

Given the situation, the traffic rules 2019, was expected to have a sobering effect on delinquent drivers, and terrible traffic in metro cities. 

But the questions, however, remain unanswered.

• Can the stringent law alone put an end to road fatalities? 
• Though raising penalties may help instil fear towards traffic rules, but will it be able to solve the main cause of road traffic accidents?

The new traffic rules, though, were not welcomed by the motorists. But the government believes these are necessary changes to improve road safety in India. 

As per the United Nations’ prescription for road safety policy, apart from enforcement, it is crucial to focus on a few key areas, such as: 

• Improving road safety management capacity
• Developing safe infrastructure
• Launching safer vehicles 
• Changing road-user behaviour 
• Improving post-crash care 
• Training for drivers
• Training of enforcement authorities
• Installation of equipment such as speed cameras and in-vehicle sensors.

Present Day Road Engineering Issues -

• Road Congestion:
  
  With an increase in motorisation/urbanisation/migration to metro cities, a lot of roads face severe road congestion, especially during peak hours. Building fly-overs and broader roads along with deploying traffic police on busy intersections will help in regulating the road congestion to a great extent.

• Faulty Road Signage: 
  
  Many cities do not have proper road sign-boards. Proper road signage helps drivers by giving them warnings in case of any diversion or hazard. If placed at the wrong point, it cannot prevent a mishap. For example, if the sign for a ‘sharp turn’ is situated only 50 metres before a turn, the driver may not have sufficient time to notice and prepare himself to manoeuvre the turn safely. Putting proper signages and marking clear zebra crossing lines is imperative to reduce mishap on roads.

• Repair of Traffic lights:

  At various intersections, traffic lights are still not functional. With the upsurge of residential and commercial areas as well as the related traffic, it’s essential to revisit the timers of red and green lights to ensure the smooth flow of traffic. Installing and repairing traffic lights will reduce road accidents to a large extent.

• Absence of Designated Parking Areas:

  Unassigned areas of parking not only obstruct the free flow of traffic but may also lead to road congestion and accidents. Proper signage of parking areas along with time limit a vehicle is allowed to be parked, are some of the essential parameters to regulate free traffic flow even on narrow roads.

• Allocation and Training of Traffic Police:
  
  The ratio of population to traffic police officers is too low at most of the places. Municipalities have neither the resources nor the know-how of traffic management. Helping allocate sufficient trained resources for traffic management can go a long way in controlling traffic disturbances on roads.

• Proper Positioning of Medians and Speed Breakers: 
  
  Medians are vital on roads where the average speed tends to exceed a specific limit. They help in separating pedestrians from motorised traffic. For example, a raised footpath along the highway or placement of pedestrian crossings at proper intervals should do the needful to optimise the safety of the road users. These not only decrease the chances of collisions but also make way for passers-by. Similarly, the positioning of speed breakers or road humps is important to lower the speed of vehicles, especially in residential areas. There are still many roads that need to be evaluated and revamped to include medians and speed breakers. 

• Infrastructural Upgrade

  : Without greater road-width and road repairs, there is hardly any scope for traffic regulation. The lack of political will to improve the poor road conditions and remove the encroachments from sidewalks and main roads can scarcely make a conducive environment for imposing hefty fines on errant drivers.

• Building Subways and Pedestrian-bridges:
  
  Government authorities need to invest in making subways and foot-bridges and encourage pedestrians to use them instead of crossing massive traffic zones. 

• Quality and Safety checks for highway roads:
  
  Faulty layout or construction defects such as narrow service lanes, faulty signages, sharp curves and erroneous road design remains the area of concern for our national highways too. Apart from that, poor illumination, unguarded civil work, slippery surface, insufficient pavement thickness, low standard building material, absence of quality checks and crowding and encroachment on roads also lead to mishaps. The monsoon spells leave behind broken roads and potholes that take a toll on lives every year.

• Driver Training:
  
  Many a time, the drivers lack the necessary knowledge of updated laws on road safety which may result in mishaps. Physical factors like fatigue and drowsy-driving also add to the risk of accidents for highway drivers. Hence, training for drivers at regular intervals is critical to ensure they are aware of the updated rules and laws.

Designing a socially and economically viable set of roads and proper traffic equipment and signs, no doubt, is a long process that includes assessing road needs and transport options and - more importantly - providing for future reconstruction and road extensions. A joint effort by the government and people is required in terms of ensuring safer and better road infrastructure. 

As per previous research and data pointers, heftier penalties, and imposing stricter traffic rules and fines have not proven to change driver behaviour.

So, for the successful implementation of these new traffic rules and fines, both the public and the administration have to work together else these rules will lose their importance very soon.