The government recently announced the commencement of the Integrated Road Accident Database (IRAD), a centralized accident database management system. Developed by the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) and scheduled for implementation by the National Informatics Centre, this initiative serves as a significant step towards ensuring safer roads across the country.
About the IRAD Project
The IRAD project is a comprehensive web-based Information Technology (IT) solution that allows agencies such as police and Public Works Department (PWDs) to input road accident details from varying perspectives like investigation, road engineering, vehicle condition, and more.
This initiative is sustained by ₹258 crore funding, supported by the World Bank. It will initially be trialed in six states — Karnataka, Madras, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh— that have reported the highest casualties due to road accidents.
Road Accidents in India: A Grave Issue
According to the World Road Statistics, India recorded the most road accident deaths among 199 countries in 2018, followed by China and the United States. Government data reveals that over 1.5 lakh people succumbed to their injuries from road accidents in 2018 alone. Out of these fatalities, 48% were aged between 18-35, with overspeeding constituting more than 60% of the causes.
| Parameter | Stats |
|---|---|
| Total road accident deaths in India (2018) | Over 150,000 |
| Percentage of deaths in the age group 18-35 | 48% |
| Accidents due to overspeeding | Over 60% |
The Functioning of IRAD
The IRAD system will offer a mobile application that enables the police to register details about a road accident, supplemented by photos and videos. This information will generate a unique ID for the incident. Following this, an engineer from the Public Works Department or local body will receive an alert on their mobile device, prompting them to visit the accident site for examination.
The collected data will then be analyzed by a team at IIT-M. Based on their insights, recommendations will be made for necessary modifications in road design, if applicable. Road users will also have the ability to upload data on road accidents through a separate mobile application, slated to launch on 1st April 2020.
National Informatics Centre: A Brief Overview
The National Informatics Centre (NIC), established in 1976, is located in New Delhi and functions under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. It provides network backbone and e-Governance support to the Central Government, State Governments, and Union Territory Administrations. As part of its responsibilities, it will oversee the successful implementation of the IRAD system.
Last Modified: February 7, 2024