Accident investigation forms the very basis of diagnosing the unsafety parameters leading to road accidents.
Accident investigation in India is conducted by the police, who still follow the primitive accused based mind-set:
- That accident is caused by the behaviour of drivers of motor vehicles and that too of the heavier vehicle driver. This mindset prevailed in Europe in the era from 1920 to 1950
- The second delusion is to look out for blackspots, and that blackspot solution will resolve the safety problem. Let the accidents happen, and when many happen at a particular location, then call the so-called experts who will give the solution for improvement. But accidents keep on increasing, and daily new black spots are forming elsewhere.
Even today, the police, societal and judicial viewpoint remain monocausal, that traffic accidents are coincidences on account of driver behaviour, and consequently these get the lowest priority in investigation and justice.
Police officers who are deputed to conduct fatal and serious road accident investigations are generally of the ranks of head constables and up to the sub-inspector. And these officers have the most minimal knowledge of the road traffic legislation. Forensic science is hardly applied in accident investigations.
At the judicial level, motor accident cases are presented at the lowest level in the judiciary. Focus and emphasis is given more on compensation rather than at remedial measures through the understanding of the causes and consequences of such accidents.
The recent International Workshop “Dangers in Road Usage “ organised by the IRTE in partnership with the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and the Bureau of Police Research & Development on 5 & 6 March at the Road Safety Hall of Nations, College of Traffic Management, impressed upon the fact that such incidents which seriously injure a person or lead to death should be termed as ‘socially unacceptable homicides’ and should be investigated appropriately. These should no longer be called accidents but ‘crashes”
Participants impressed upon the need for a systemic change in accident investigation. Unless the disease is diagnosed scientifically, remedial measures will remain arbitrary.
IRTE’s College of Traffic Management specialises in this domain and regularly conducts specialised courses in of road crash investigation, and forensic engineering in road crash investigation. An entire department of forensic science equipped with laboratories are an asset to the nation. Police officers, insurance organisations, fleet organisations, consulting firms, can take benefit.
The M.Sc. course on Traffic Management being conducted by the College of Traffic Management, in collaboration with the Maharshi Dayanand University, covers the subject of road crash investigation in detail.
More can be seen on our website http://www.irte.com/
In case those interested in the subject of ‘dangers in road usage’ and would like a copy of the report & recommendations of the International Workshop as mentioned above, may write with name, designation and communication details to president@irte.com
No Comments