Road safety is a major public health concern worldwide, causing over 1.35 million deaths annually, with a staggering 90% of these fatalities occurring in developing nations. A significant 11% of these casualties are in India, as per the 2018 Global Status report on Road Safety. The Ministry of Roads, Transport and Highways (MoRTH) recently initiated the ‘e-DAR’ (e-Detailed Accident Report) portal to provide prompt information about road accidents and expedite accident compensation claims, providing some relief for victims’ families.
‘e-DAR’ – a Portal for Instant Access to Accident Information
The e-DAR portal developed by MoRTH offers an innovative integrated database that digitalizes Detailed Accident Reports (DAR), making them readily accessible. These reports are linked to the Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD). From iRAD, more than 90% of the datasets are directly pushed to e-DAR, requiring minimal information input from stakeholders such as police, road authorities, and hospitals. The e-DAR serves as an electronic extension of iRAD.
How e-DAR Helps Combat False Claims
The DAR portal tackles fraudulent claims by carrying out comprehensive searches based on various parameters like vehicles involved in the accident, accident date, and First Information Report number.
Cross-Platform Linkages and Identifying Accident Hotspots
This platform connects with other government portals like Vaahan to access details about driving licenses and vehicle registration. It further identifies ‘hotspots’ or high-risk areas for accidents, enabling authorities to implement solutions to prevent accidents in these areas.
Other Road Safety Initiatives on a Global Level
In addition to e-DAR, there are several global initiatives focusing on road safety. One such initiative is the Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety (2015), a resolution aimed at halving the global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2030. It was signed at the second Global High-Level Conference on Road Safety in Brazil, making it part of the Sustainable Development Goal 3.6. Another significant initiative is the UN Global Road Safety Week celebrated biennially. The sixth edition held in May 2021 emphasized strong leadership for road safety.
Initiatives in India Aimed at Road Safety
India has enacted several acts aimed at enhancing road safety. One such piece of legislation is the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019. This act increased penalties for traffic violations, defective vehicles, and juvenile driving. It proposed a Motor Vehicle Accident Fund to provide compulsory insurance cover for all road users in India for certain types of accidents. The act also paved the way for the creation of a National Road Safety Board by the Central Government. Furthermore, it reinforced the protection rights of good samaritans.
Other important acts include The Carriage by Road Act, 2007, which regulates common carriers; The Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2000, controlling land within National Highways; and The National Highways Authority of India Act, 1998, which focuses on the management of National Highways. All these initiatives collectively aim to enhance road safety and reduce accident-related fatalities in India.