The latest report from FACTLY, authored by Pavithra K M (pavithra@factly.in), paints a sobering picture: over-speeding is responsible for approximately 70% of fatal road accidents, with deaths tragically increasing between 2017 and 2023 Over-speeding causes about 70% of Fatal Road Accidents, Deaths Up from 2017 to 2023. These aren't just statistics; they represent countless lives lost and families shattered. It's a stark reminder of a preventable crisis unfolding on our streets every day.
This alarming trend brings me back to conversations I've had for years about the fundamental importance of data in shaping public policy and ensuring public welfare. The core idea I want to convey is this — take a moment to notice that I had brought up this thought or suggestion years ago. I had already predicted the challenges we face when comprehensive data isn't effectively utilized, and I had even proposed solutions at the time. Now, seeing how things have unfolded with road safety, it's striking how relevant that earlier insight still is. Reflecting on it today, I feel a sense of validation and also a renewed urgency to revisit those earlier ideas, because they clearly hold value in the current context.
I've often emphasized that data must be treated as a "public good" and that the government needs to make the necessary investments to view it as such, as I discussed in my blog mantra for government. This concept of a national data governance center, a unified platform for managing public data to streamline access and utilization, has been a consistent theme in my reflections, echoing the sentiments I shared in Overwhelming number of schemes where I acknowledged Shri Piyush Goyal (p.goyal@india.gov.in)'s efforts towards such initiatives. Similarly, the government's efforts to expand data sources and implement policies like the Draft India Data Accessibility and Use Policy, which I discussed in some day soon data will decide and where I appreciated Rajeev Chandrasekhar's vision, are precisely the kind of systemic approaches needed here. Collecting, analyzing, and acting upon granular data related to road accidents, traffic patterns, and driver behavior can inform targeted interventions, improve infrastructure, and enforce regulations more effectively.
Moreover, the imperative for public safety extends beyond road accidents. I recall the discussions around enhancing security in public institutions, such as hospitals, following incidents like the one at R G Kar Medical College. The Supreme Court's proactive stance in setting up a National Task Force for the safety and dignity of doctors, as highlighted in my blog national task force for doctors, underscores the importance of a comprehensive approach to protection. This mirrors the broader push for efficiency and accessibility in our judicial system, championed by figures like Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, who have advocated for digitization to address case backlogs and streamline processes, as I noted in blogs like Justice Delayed is Justice Denied and digital court in kerala. The underlying principle is the same: leveraging structured approaches and technology for the greater public good.
Fatal road accidents are not merely a traffic problem; they are a public health and safety crisis demanding a holistic, data-driven solution. Just as we strive for a more secure environment in hospitals and a more efficient judiciary, we must apply the same rigor and foresight to our roads. It's time to translate data into lives saved.
Regards, Hemen Parekh
Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai
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