Bengal Leads the Way ~ I

Bengal, Oct 02 : Road safety has become a critical global concern, particularly in low and middle income countries where rapid motorization has far outpaced investments in infrastructure, enforcement, and awareness. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 1.3 million people die every year in road crashes worldwide, while tens of millions sustain injuries, often life altering.

To address this crisis, the United Nations declared the Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011–2020), later extended to 2021–2030, with the goal of reducing global road deaths and injuries by half. The “Safe Systems” approach, advocated by WHO, recognizes that human error is inevitable  and thus, road systems must be designed to absorb mistakes without leading to catastrophic outcomes.

In India, road safety is now one of the country’s most pressing developmental and governance challenges. Despite having just 1% of the world’s vehicles, India accounts for nearly 11% of global road fatalities. In 2022 alone, the country recorded over 4.6 lakh accidents and 1.68 lakh deaths, with young adults (18–45 years) making up more than 70% of the victims. The economic impact is equally alarming — road crashes are estimated to cost India 3–5% of its GDP annually.

Historically, India’s road safety response has been fragmented. The National Road Safety Policy (2010) and the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, have since brought much-needed structure, introducing stricter penalties, better insurance frameworks, and technology-driven enforcement. However, issues like heterogeneous traffic, weak enforcement, and poor pedestrian infrastructure remain widespread.

West Bengal’s Model: Safe Drive, Save Life

In this context, West Bengal stands out for its innovative, sustained, and data driven approach to road safety. The state’s flagship initiative, ‘Safe Drive, Save Life’ (SDSL), launched in 2016, has evolved from a slogan into a comprehensive policy framework integrating the four Es of road safety  Education, Enforcement, Engineering, and Emergency response.

Initially met with skepticism, the SDSL campaign today represents a “whole-of-government” approach, involving the Transport, Police, PWD, Education, Health, Urban Development, and Panchayat departments, along with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The State Road Safety Council (SRSC) leads coordination at the top level, while district and block-level committees ensure localized implementation and feedback loops.

Key Interventions and Outcomes

The state’s strategy combines public engagement, enforcement, and technology. Key measures include:

“No Helmet, No Petrol” rule for two wheeler riders.

Electronic surveillance and e-challan systems across Kolkata and other districts.

Nighttime two wheeler restrictions on major flyovers.

Blackspot rectification and improved road design for high-risk corridors.

Standardized guidelines for buses, school vehicles, and hazardous goods transport.

Community engagement through theatre, folk campaigns, and school-based awareness.

Rapid medical response during the golden hour for accident victims.

Technological interventions such as speed cameras, automatic number plate recognition, and geo-fenced emission testing centres (AETCs) have improved compliance. Interceptor vehicles equipped with remote sensing devices now patrol major highways, enforcing fitness, speed, and pollution norms.

Institutional Coordination and Capacity Building

The state collaborates with institutions like IIT Kharagpur, IIEST Shibpur, and Jadavpur University for capacity building and technical research in road safety. Driver training programs under the Technical Education Department link employability with awareness. Regular health checks of bridges, flyovers, and school zones have also improved safety compliance.

As a result of these combined efforts, West Bengal performs better than several large states such as Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in terms of fatalities per lakh population. Kolkata, in particular, has witnessed a steady decline in crashes due to strengthened enforcement and surveillance.

Challenges Ahead

Despite progress, rural districts continue to report higher fatalities, particularly involving pedestrians and two wheelers. The rapid growth in vehicle registration   Murshidabad (+19.3%), Paschim Medinipur (+14.5%), and North 24 Parganas (+11.5%)   underscores the need for sustained coordination and infrastructure upgrades.

Enforcement fatigue, mixed traffic conditions, and gaps in public awareness remain persistent challenges. However, West Bengal’s institutionalized model   combining data, enforcement, engineering, and citizen participation continues to serve as a national benchmark in building safer roads.

(The writer is an IAS officer of the 2002 batch and Secretary, Transport Department, Government of West Bengal. Views are personal.)