India to host global road safety meet on November 1

New Delhi, October 31, 2012: About 1,000 eminent road safety transportation experts from more than 30 countries are expected to converge in New Delhi for a two-day global meet on ‘Road Safety in Urban and Rural Roads’. To be held on November 1-2, the event is being organised by the India chapter of the Geneva-based International Road Federation (IRF), the global body for promoting and advocating safe road developments.

Following the recent World Health Organisation (WHO) report that India accounts for more than 10 percent of the global road accident deaths of 1.3 million (13 lakh) worldwide every year, global experts attending the meet will discuss ways and means to reduce fatal road accidents, especially on urban and rural roads . The conference will provide a platform to all stakeholders to have interactions, to evolve strategies and action plan to realize improved road safety, according to K K Kapila, chairman, IRF.

Some of the subjects that will be discussed will include institutional coordination for road safety, public education on road safety, tackling safety for mixed traffic in urban areas, technology for enforcing road safety, dedicated road safety fund, changes in the Motor Vehicles Act, vehicle design for safety, road safety through engineering measures, safety during road operations, safety on high-speed corridors, advanced traffic management systems, intelligent highways and vehicle safety devices.

Governments worldwide are working to reduce the number of fatal accidents and European countries have been particularly successful. However, fatalities due to road accidents are on the rise in developing countries. A session will also devote itself on road safety in metro cities including Delhi. It is understood that the maximum number of fatal accidents in India take place in the capital city.

SHOBHA MATHUR

PHOTOGRAPHS: SUBHASH SIMHUDU