How knowledge exchange can reduce the burden of road traffic injuries in India

In July 2024, a tragic road crash in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh captured headlines across India. A speeding double-decker bus crashed into the back of a milk tanker on the high-speed Agra-Lucknow expressway, killing 18. This disaster, while horrific, was not an isolated incident, and served as a stark reminder of the worsening road safety crisis in India.

According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau, the country recorded 154,732 road crash fatalities in 2019, which fell to 133,201 in 2020 due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, by 2022, this figure surged past pre-pandemic levels, reaching over 171,000 deaths—a grim trend that underscores the urgent need for action amid competing priorities faced by the government.

The rising fatalities paint a troubling picture,but are only part of the story. To understand the full toll of India’s road safety crisis, one must also account for the devastating impact of road crashes on those that survive—many of whom end up with long-term disabilities. With the lack of comprehensive data and follow-up on non-fatal injuries, a gaping hole remains in our understanding of the problem. This lack of data and research hampers the ability of policymakers, transport planners, public health officials, and law enforcement to design effective interventions and safety nets to address the needs and concerns of road crash survivors.

To shed light on this issue, the Global Road Safety Facility (GRSF) recently published a report titled Beyond the Numbers: Estimating the Disability Burden of Road Traffic Injuries. This report takes a crucial step beyond merely counting fatalities and investigates the long-term impacts of road crash-induced injuries, which often lead to permanent disabilities. These injuries can have devastating effects on individuals, families, and communities, leading to loss of income, increased healthcare costs, and long-term care needs. The findings of the study—which tracked over 2,300 hospitalized patients over the course of six months across six low and middle-income countries—highlight the need for a more nuanced understanding of road safety issues in India and beyond. It’s not just about preventing deaths—it’s about preventing injuries that can alter lives forever.

Above: infographic depicting key findings from the Beyond the Numbers report

Knowledge exchange and collaboration are vital in addressing this complex, multidisciplinary challenge. That’s why GRSF was proud to be a sponsor of the 15th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion (known simply as “Safety 2024”), which took place earlier this month in Delhi. The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including academics, researchers, policy institutes, civil society organizations, foundations, and government officials, all committed to advancing safety and injury prevention.

The World Bank used the opportunity to convene a diverse group of stakeholders not only from India but also from Bangladesh, Mexico, Namibia, Nepal, and South Africa to discuss the costs associated with rehabilitation of disabled road crash survivors. The World Bank further facilitated joint discussions between researchers from developing countries and several Indian government leaders who are responsible for road safety management at the state and national level.

The annual conference provides a venue for sharing ideas, insights, best practices, and case studies from across the world. In turn, this exchange of knowledge helps shape the business and research priorities of GRSF—the leading funding platform and technical partner at the World Bank for road safety management.

This year’s conversation emphasized road safety’s impact on the socio-economic development of the poor and its consequences for crash survivors. For instance, a household survey-based analytical work in India, Traffic Crash Injuries and Disabilities: The Burden on Indian Society, highlighted the disproportionate impact of crashes on poor households in India.

Many positive examples of road safety interventions have already worked in the context of India’s road network. One such example is a World Bank-supported project, which involved coordinated efforts on road engineering, enforcement, and emergency response in the Indian state of Karnataka. These efforts resulted in a 54% reduction in deaths over 3 years on a stretch of high-risk highway. Research findings underscore the importance of mainstreaming road safety as part of institutional development and aligning road safety interventions with other themes including health, accessibility, climate resilience, and urban development.

As India and other countries continue to grapple with the escalating road safety crisis, the insights and connections forged at events like Safety 2024 offer a beacon of hope. With more data, better research, and a collaborative approach to policymaking, there is a pathway to reducing road crashes, saving lives, and mitigating the far-reaching impacts of road traffic injuries. The road ahead is challenging, but with continued commitment to knowledge sharing and collaboration, progress is within reach.

Source: blogs.worldbank.org