70% traffic control devices faulty: Survey

As many as 70 per cent of the road signs, traffic signals, and road markings in the national Capital are faulty, according to a report released by the Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE). The survey also pointed out that the failure of traffic engineering led to 1,622 deaths in 2015, and that this figure was higher than 122 other countries under the United Nations (UN), including Portugal, Australia, and Spain.

In fact, in 2015, more than 88 lakh vehicles met with accidents in Delhi due to improper traffic infrastructure. Some drivers even had to pay fines or face imprisonment without them being at fault.

The survey, titled 'Crisis of Traffic Management in Delhi', was conducted by the IRTE along with the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), and IRTE President Rohit Baluja released the survey report. Sewa Ram, Professor of Transport Planning, SPA and K K Kapila, Chairman of the International Road Federation (IRF) were also present on the occasion.

The two bodies had organised a seminar to highlight various issues ailing the traffic system in Delhi on Wednesday.

Seeking support from the government for better traffic management, Baluja said, " The Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill, 2016, which is the revision of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, has been passed by the Lok Sabha and should be tabled in the Upper House during the next session. In order to make the legislation successfully implementable, it is important that these deficiencies in traffic control devices are removed."

Various recommendations were made to the authorities concerned. The delegates were of the opinion that the government must ensure that traffic control devices follow the UN standards and are uniform across the country.

They also pointed out the need to train the police and other people involved in traffic engineering and management of road traffic.

"India accounts for the highest number of road deaths in the world and India is signatory to the UN Decade of Action for Reducing Road Accident Deaths by 50 per cent by the year 2020. In India, drivers take road signs for granted but at most places in Delhi, they are hidden, bungled, missing, or just plain wrong. Simple road engineering measures such as provision of appropriate road markings and traffic signs and minor layout changes on the road junctions are proven measures that significantly reduce the number of road accidents," IRF's Kapila said.

Uniform code

Various recommendations were made to the authorities concerned. The delegates were of the opinion that the government must ensure that traffic control devices follow the UN standards and are uniform across the country. 
They also pointed out the need to train the police and other people involved in traffic engineering and management of road traffic.