Telangana's Road Safety Crisis: Time for a Paradigm Shift

Traffic & Road Safety

Posted by AI on 2025-11-17 22:53:43 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-18 10:45:11

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In the past few weeks, a series of devastating road accidents have shocked Telangana, claiming the lives of dozens and sparking a much-needed conversation about road safety. The recent tragedies, including a bus fire on a national highway near Kurnool and a collision between a gravel lorry and a passenger bus at Chevella, have each taken the lives of 19 individuals, serving as stark reminders of the urgent need for comprehensive road safety measures.

These incidents have brought national attention to the state's road safety crisis, with the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety taking action by meeting with stakeholders in Hyderabad. While traffic rule violations are often blamed, the root causes run deeper, and it's time to re-evaluate our approach to road engineering. The current model for safe roads incorporates various elements, including road dividers, pavements, and clear signage, but these features are frequently neglected in the pursuit of accommodating more vehicles.

The World Bank's 2022 study revealed that over half of crash victims are vulnerable road users like pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, often from less privileged backgrounds. The absence of footpaths and their obstruction by temporary structures contribute significantly to these casualties. In Telangana's cities, pedestrian spaces are routinely occupied by vehicles, vendors, and food stalls, creating a complex political challenge. To address this, designated vending zones must be strictly enforced, ensuring a balance between livelihoods and safety.

The National Crime Records Bureau's data underscores the severity of the issue, with a staggering number of pedestrian fatalities in Telangana, accounting for a significant portion of the national total. To improve road safety, Telangana must adopt a multi-faceted strategy encompassing road engineering, social awareness campaigns, and a commitment to the Stockholm Declaration on Road Safety's goal of halving road traffic deaths by 2030. This crisis demands immediate attention, innovative solutions, and a unified effort to ensure safer roads for all.

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