Wondering where your city ranks in terms of road safety?

*This is a sponsored feature

It is a widely known fact that India has one of the highest road accident rates in the world. And while there is a huge hue and cry about this across the country, it is extremely difficult to address the situation considering the vast scale of operations that it would require. But it has come to light that highways are not the biggest killers in India. Thus, by applying a more concentrated approach Maruti Suzuki conducted an extensive survey called the Maruti Suzuki India Road Safety Index was across 10 Indian cities. Carried out over a period of 3 months, the study has taken in feedback from 6,000 people representing the population in these cities. In each city, 15 prominent areas with 10 highly used roads were identified for the study consisting of busy areas, bus stops, malls, tourist spots and petrol pumps and the like.

Here is a look at the 12 parameters that all 10 cities surveyed were rated in:

• Pedestrian Rights
• Road Lighting and Maintenance
• Motor Laws and Traffic Control
• Emergency Services
• Road Cleanliness
• Connectivity, Road Infrastructure
• Road Transport Infrastructure
• Road Safety
• Road Safety for children
• Differently Abled Friendly
• Road Quality and Pollution Control
• Heavy Vehicle Traffic Management

With the use of the data accumulated, a report was made to identify the best performing cities in the above mentioned categories while bringing out the gaps that need attention. The cities that were surveyed for this study includes Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Indore, Raipur.

So, without further ado here is a look at which cities come out on top for each of the above mentioned parameters.

1. Pedestrian rights: Raipur emerged as the best city for pedestrians in the country owing to prominent zebra crossing markings on busy roads. Other initiatives benefitting pedestrians raked in points for Raipur as well as it has foot over bridges and subways for people to cross roads, no-vehicle days and cycling tracks in place to ensure the safety of bicyclists.

2. Road Lighting and Maintenance: One of the most helpful factors for preventing accidents in urban areas is proper road lighting infrastructure. Kolkata shines on this front literally as it has ample lighting on both city roads and public spaces. While trident lights contribute to the beautification of the city it is the city’s solar powered high illumination lighting equipment that reduces the burden on public funds as these lights are maintenance free and energy efficient.

3. Motor Laws and Traffic Control: As we emerge into a nation the world recognizes for its economic growth, our road infrastructure too is evolving at a fast rate. And in these fast-paced times, it is equally important to educate road users about newer infrastructure and how to use them correctly. For this purpose, it is crucial that traffic law enforcement bodies take it upon themselves to monitor our roads and implement strict penalties for violators to ensure the safety of all road users. As per the survey, Chennai has emerged as the top city for traffic law implementation. This has been done by setting up traffic booths in busy traffic intersections to ensure strict monitoring and enforcement of traffic laws. Patrolling has also been implemented to curb drink and drive cases.

4. Emergency Services: This is one of the most crucial aspects that has to be factored in not just from a law enforcement standpoint but also in terms of infrastructure when it comes to having provisions for emergencies in our road network. And thanks to strict adherence to the Gujarat Emergency Medical Services Act, Ahmedabad has been rated as the best city in India for ensuring smooth flow of emergency service vehicles on its urban road network. While 80 per cent of respondents surveyed expressed satisfaction for the promptness of emergency services provided in the city, the fact that a trained workforce at the multiple emergency centres set up around the city adhere to standards set for hospitals and ambulances really helps a smooth emergency service network around the city.

5. Road cleanliness: Keeping the streets clean and litter free is another aspect that betters road safety as motorists do not have to avoid littered parts of a motorable road. On this account, Indore comes out on top as the city with the cleanest road network. This is courtesy of the city’s undying efforts to keep itself clean. This has been achieved by the existence of door-to-door solid waste collection, instituted waste segregation and installation of tracking devices for garbage trucks. What further helps is that residents are encouraged to install bulk waste converters to compost organic waste, in doing so they can avail between a 5 – 10 per cent discount on property taxes.

6. Connectivity, Road Infrastructure: The national capital races to the front on the Connectivity and Road Infrastructure department as the city has a great network of arterial roads to offer alternative routes to commuters. There are plenty of flyovers built around the city to further decongest busy areas. Above and below the streets there is a good and reliable metro network that helps people commute in a stress-free manner all around the city. Great connectivity to outskirts as well to the neighbouring cities of Gurgaon and Noida further ensure it is easy to go in and out of New Delhi.

7. Road Transport Infrastructure: The road network in almost all cities in India today have been upgraded to meet with heavier transportation needs. But its when you factor in variables that things get tricky. For example, during monsoons or rains waterlogged streets can bring a city to a standstill. On this account, Ahmedabad has taken appropriate measures by taking significant efforts to upgrade its existing drainage system. A dedicated bus lane system further ensures smooth flow of traffic and safety by reducing criss-cross movement of traffic.

8. Road Safety: A city full of safety minded people sure is a great place to start on this front. The residents of Raipur care for road safety and this has been harnessed positively by the city by installing well marked traffic signs on key roads, abundant safety banners radium reflectors, zebra crossings and well-designed speed breakers. Various safety campaigns have also resulted in a significant reduction in road accidents being reported.

9. Road safety for children: Schools in Kolkata have road safety awareness programmes, this combined with a scientific approach to building speed breakers around school entry and exit points and residential areas along with raising awareness for child road safety among residents and school bus drivers gives this city in West Bengal the rating for the safest city for children as per the survey.

10. Differently abled friendly: Mumbai has emerged as the best city for the differently abled to move about in as there are plenty of provisions and facilities for differently abled with ample reservations and coaches in local buses and trains along with concessional rates. There are even private cab services to cater to the differently abled.

11. Road Quality: New Delhi comes to the forefront of the survey once again with the best maintained urban road quality in India as the texture and evenness of road surfaces have been noted to be good.

12. Heavy Vehicle traffic management: When heavy vehicles flow through city streets the driving behaviour on our urban road network changes dramatically. For this purpose, Ahmedabad has the best system of monitoring heavy vehicle movement. There are strong restrictions for heavy vehicles plying through its city streets while it implements special routes, dedicated lanes and defined timings for movement of these vehicles. 

Let’s hope the authorities are taking note while we pledge to do our own bit towards happier, safer Indian roads. For more information about the Maruti Suzuki’s initiative and the Road Safety Index click here.