SHIMLA: PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh reiterated the commitment of the State Government to Road Safety  saying that Himachal Needs to bring down the road fatalities by improving blackspots, erecting crash barriers and mass education on making road safety a top priority in the state.

Chairing a meeting on Road Safety with officers of Police Department headed by DGP police Sanjay Kundu, PWD Department and the World Bank in which Police Department made a detailed presentation based on the New York Police Department (NYPD) Model of deep analytics, he complimented the HP Police for making Road Safety a priority.

As a result, from years 2017 to 2022 road traffic accidents (RTAs) had reduced from 3114 to 2597 and  fatalities from 1203 to 1032 and injuries from 5452 to 4133.

Vikramaditya said the state has come a long way, but at the same time we need to cover a long distance towards road safety.

“Our road safety is poorer than national average, both in terms of population and vehicle numbers”.

As against national average of 29.30 RTAs per lakh of population, HP had a higher rate of 31.54, he added.

Similarly for deaths in RTAs per lakh of population HP had higher rate of 13.77 against national average of 10.93.

In terms of vehicles, RTAs per ten thousand vehicles was 15.10 for India while HP had a higher rate of 17.37. For deaths in RTAs per ten thousand vehicles, against the national average of 5.08, HP had a higher average of 6.93.

NYDP model of deep analytics of fatalities reveal that 23% are caused due to head on collision, 22% run off road and 19% due to pedestrian hits.

Minister directed the PWD officials to make provision of pedestrian infrastructure especially in plain areas (to prevent pedestrian hits), crash-barriers in hill areas (to prevent run-off accidents) and removal of black spots to prevent head on collisions and junction collisions.

The first objective, Minister said is to bring the road safety norms of HP below the national average.

The second is to bring down the RTAs and deaths by 50% by the year 2030, as declared by the United Nations General Assembly as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He stressed need for building safer roads, smarter enforcement, providing better resources & mobility to police and community participation.

Minister assured provision of adequate funds and resources to the Police Department.

He stressed the need for encouraging community-based efforts and involving the community for road safety. To this end he assured the presence of PWD on social media.

Minister advised the concerned departments to make timelines to monitor and review progress.

DGP Sanjay Kundu said they are working hard to save the lives of people who use the roads. 

"It is a hard task. We appreciable that media is playing a positive role by raising the issue of road accidents in the state". 

For Minimal human interference in Challaning system,  action required for Co-ordination between HP Police and HPPWD for Road Safety:

• Installation of digital traffic signal with automatic timers having CCTVs Cameras sensing the amount of traffic on particular road. Action required for Co-ordination between HP Police and HPPWD for Road Safety
• Proposed establishment of Integrated Traffic Command and Control centre at Headquarter level for effective and efficient Monitoring of traffic flow and road accident. Action required for Co-ordination between HP Police and HPPWD for Road Safety
• Development of Pedestrian Infrastructure
• Marking of zebra crossing, overhead bridge, Pedestrian path/subway, refuge island etc. Action required for Co-ordination between HP Police and HPPWD for Road Safety
• Provisioning of crash barrier/parapets at high accident prone areas.

Action required for Co-ordination between HP Police and HPPWD for Road Safety

• Installation of better road signage‘s with special emphasis on Pictoral presentation rather than text for better understanding of vehicle user who are unable to understand Hindi or English Language
• Action required for Co-ordination between HP Police and HPPWD for Road Safety • Continuous and regular identification & rectification of Black Spots
• Improvement & upgradation of road conditions Action required for Co-ordination between HP Police and HPPWD for Road Safety
• Installation of CCTVs Cameras at various location.
• •For tracking Hit and run cases, theft vehicles, and other crime involved vehicles etc Action required for Co-ordination between HP Police and HPPWD for Road Safety
• Development of Parking availability application to inform vehicle users about parking facility and availability of parking slots at particular parking places Action required for Co-ordination between HP Police and HPPWD for Road Safety
• Co-ordinated efforts for road safety awareness among road users through road safety clubs established at Police Station level.
• Participation of various stakeholders like road users, Children, taxi operators, in these meeting
• Provisioning of funds for Road Safety Clubs for carrying out road safety activities. Action required for Co-ordination between HP Police and HPPWD for Road Safety
• Establishment and renovation of traffic assistance room gumti for traffic duty personnel Action required for Co-ordination between HP Police and HPPWD for Road Safety.