New Study Reveals Low-cost Measures To Reduce Crashes On Indian Highways

The audit was conducted on the same stretch of highway where the fatal accident involving Cyrus Mistry happened

The Indian chapter of the International Road Federation (IRF) recently conducted a road safety audit on a stretch of a six-lane high-speed highway between Mandor, Maharashtra and Achhad, Gujarat. This particular 70km stretch was also the scene of a recent fatal crash that resulted in the death of business tycoon Cyrus Mistry.

This type of audit is a formal, systematic and detailed examination of a road project by an independent and qualified team of auditors with the objective of compiling a report of potential safety concerns in the said project. 

Based on the findings of this road safety audit by the IRF team, these were some of the key issues and low-cost measures that could help reduce the number of fatal accidents on these types of high-speed highways:

Increased signage

Most crashes occur due to lack of information that thereby increases reaction time in case of coming upon an unknown element while driving. The risk is maximised at night when visibility is already impaired. That is why signage can help reduce the factor of the unknown and thereby reduce the risk of a serious incident.

For example, it is common that new or refreshed highways with increased lanes will still use older bridges that are narrower. However, you’d rarely find signage warning you about the change in road width in advance. Instead, a lane of road seems to vanish with next to no notice.

Similarly with relatively sharp turns on flat lands, there is little signage warning drivers about the angle of the turn or to instruct them to slow down or to avoid overtaking. We might find them in twisty mountain roads, but the speed is usually much slower on those stretches than it is on flat-land highways.

Also, often a sign will indicate an exit off the highway at the last moment causing drivers to swerve across and lose control in a rush to not miss their planned exit. 

Therefore, increased signage that provides useful information can help reduce crashes. It is also imperative that the signage be positioned for max visibility and be repeated. For example, a sign approaching a risky stretch of the highway (narrow bridge, exit ramp, etc) should be present at a distance of 600 metres and then again at around 200 metres, says the study. 

Additional crash barriers

Some stretches of high-speed highways offer no protection to vehicles that would keep them from going off in the event of losing control. This can cause them to roll off the main highway, or worse, bounce across to the other side of the low dividers and into oncoming traffic. Different types of crash barriers offer different kinds of protection, such as metal beams that can help reduce the speed of an out-of-control vehicle at a lower risk or concrete barriers that are more immediate in their stopping force. 

Fewer openings in the median

The main road divider that splits the two directions of traffic is also known as the median in traffic terminology. A common issue with highways in India is that they often fail to act as roads separated from local traffic, and often have far too many cuts and entry points that can be a risk for the high-speed traffic. It can result in accidents due to vehicles randomly joining the highway from an opening at speeds much lower than the vehicles coming from behind.

In the stretch that the IRF audited, they found nearly 30 openings in the median where there should be next to none. For important crossings to cater to local populations, the highway is supposed to be elevated and offer underpasses for access. Exit ramps should be clearly marked and offer a path for commuters to get on and off the highway in a safe manner.

Increased use of high-visibility materials

As mentioned earlier, most fatal road accidents occur at night when visibility is compromised. It is worse under difficult weather conditions such as heavy rain and/or fog. The highways should use reflective or bright paint for the parapets to clearly mark them for all types of vehicles. 

Additionally, road markings and lanes should make use of small reflective panels that can be more visible than just the painted lines. A majority of the signs should also be using reflective materials for increased visibility.

Consistent and high quality maintenance work

Perhaps the most obvious and yet often overlooked aspect of improving road safety is the upkeep of the roadway infrastructure. From faded paint of the parapets, to damaged barriers and non-functional street lamps, regular and effective maintenance can help reduce the number of incidents.

Additionally, ensuring that the road itself is kept in an acceptable condition and free of potholes will be of great help in preventing related accidents. These can unsettle vehicles, or worse damage them, at highway speeds and cause them to lose control. In areas where there is extensive rainfall, proper drainage is required to prevent waterlogging that, if left unchecked, can also lead to traffic incidents.

Final thoughts

India has been continuously working on improving road safety and bringing down the annual tally of fatal road incidents. However, it is a tall challenge that requires changes on every possible level. While carmakers have been pushed to offer an increasing number of safety features as standard, authorities concerned have much to do on their part as well.

• Mandatory Six Airbags Deadline Pushed To October 2023
• You Will Soon Be Fined For Not Wearing Rear Seat Belt, Says Union Minister Nitin Gadkari
• It’ll Be Harder To Get A 5-Star GNCAP Crash Test Rating From July 2022

Improving the road network itself is an expensive and time consuming process, but most of the suggestions stated above are relatively inexpensive and are faster ways to reduce the loss of life and the sheer number of road incidents on our roads. 

We at CarDekho hope that the government bodies concerned take note of the observations shared by the IRF and improve road safety, ahead of mandates that simply increase the number of airbags to be offered as standard.