Road Safety Rules in India

It’s amusing how often we find ourselves on the road. In a country like India which is blessed by its population, we can find all forms of emotions on the road, like kids joyfully travelling in their school bus or a frustrated employee at the traffic signal. Everyone glances at the elephant or horse riding next to them, just like animal lovers cannot overlook the cute dogs and cats running on the sidewalk. In the daylight, you will find people walking and cycling while at night, they would take their families out for an ice cream. For roads that are always filled with people, it is important to make sure safety is not compromised. The roads we are walking, driving, or cycling on should be treated with respect to the rules and regulations designed to keep all of us safe.

This article will go beyond the basic traffic light rules in terms of road safety measures and discuss the things we should not forget while we are out on the roads.

Road Safety Measures in India: General Safety Tips

For everyone on the road, some general rules have to be followed to avoid risks and injuries. 

Motor Vehicles

These general tips are for all kinds of motor vehicles, some might be specific but overall they give a basic understanding of risks and measures to face them.

All passengers in a car must use seat belts: It is a common misunderstanding that only the driver of the car should wear a seatbelt, or people sitting in the backseat of a car do not need to put on the seatbelt. This is not true at all. Car manufacturers put seatbelts on every seat to avoid any kind of injury to passengers irrespective of where they are sitting. It takes just a sudden brake which can cause chaos if we are not using the seat belt. Wearing a seatbelt requires no effort at all and should become a habit.

Duty of passengers: Driving requires consistent focus and requires awareness of the road. It is the duty of passengers to make sure they are not distracting the driver by any means. Loud music, loud voices, conversation with drivers, or physical touch are common ways by which drivers can get distracted.

Responsible driver: Being in the driving seat is a responsibility that every driver should uphold. The key responsibilities of drivers are:

• One should never drive without a driving license.
• Must not drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Should respect traffic signals.
• Drive within speed limits.
• Should not overtake from the left side.
• Should not text or call while driving.

Always obey traffic rules: The importance of traffic rules is already glanced upon in our daily lives. Traffic rules are established not only to ensure safety but also for the smooth running of traffic. It is evident that if everyone drives in lanes and obeys traffic rules, we will end up having much more swift journeys and a less tense driving experience. 

Driver can’t be sleepy: A sleepy driver can create risk even on an empty road. To prevent such situations here are some tips to keep you energised for the trip.

• Bring the windows down: Fresh air might help you to activate your senses.
• Turn the music volume on: Music can be energising and singing along can help to deviate your mind from sleeping.
• Pullover: If nothing works, it's best to park your car somewhere. You can have a coffee if accessible or take a 20-minute power nap.

Always remember, that driving when you can't control your sleep is as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Adjusting to the weather: Adjusting your driving habits with the weather is crucial. It is important to understand that weather conditions affect your braking time and you should adapt to the situation accordingly.

What is braking time?

The time taken by a vehicle to completely stop after pressing the brakes is called the braking time. It usually depends on the speed of the vehicle, road condition, the condition of tyres, and vehicle weight. Similarly, the distance between the point where the vehicle completely stops and the point where brakes are applied is called braking distance.

• Rainfall: During rainfall, it is important to drive slowly. Due to wet roads, the friction between the road and tyres is reduced hence the brakes work with a delay. The braking distance is doubled in wet road conditions, hence you should always drive at a low speed in a single lane and keep more distance from the vehicles ahead of you.[1]
• Snowfall: During a snowfall the braking time increases 10 times to normal braking distance hence it is highly risky. For vehicles often driving in snow, special tyres are designed and normal tyres are recommended to avoid driving in snow due to the high risk. Nevertheless, if you find yourself driving in snow, always drive with minimum speed and make sure you have a grip on tyres. If you feel like the tyres are getting out of control, it's better to stop and call for assistance.[1]
• Fog: Foggy roads are extremely risky to drive on unless everyone on the road has their blinkers on. Hence you must always have your blinkers on to help the other cars to spot you. While driving in fog, speed should be minimal and you should drive in a single lane.

Note: These numbers are an average calculation, they are not 100% accurate for every vehicle. They are an estimated general value obtained for educational purposes.[2]

For Cyclists

People with cycling habits should take care of these things:

Be Predictable: You must ride in a straight motion and signal your turns in advance to remain predictable.

Proper safety gear: Wear safety pads on the knees and elbows along with the helmet. 

Glow differently: Wear bright clothes in the day and shiny clothes in the night. This helps to be seen differently by motor drivers. Use a tail light during the night. 

Ride properly: Use cycling lanes if they exist, otherwise, drive on the extreme left of the road as it is the lane for the slow vehicles.

Maintain your cycle: Your brakes and suspension should be functioning well along with the chain of your cycle. 

For Pedestrians

People walking on the sidewalk should keep in mind:

Plan your route: Always plan a route, prefer to take routes where you get to walk on a sidewalk and don't have to walk on a road. 

Cross the road carefully: Look to the left and right before crossing the road. Teach children the skill of crossing a road. If available cross on a zebra crossing when the signal for motor traffic is red.

Protect the children: In case you are walking on the sidewalk, keep the children on the opposite side of the road.

Educate children: Children should be taught about the rules and regulations of the road from an early age. 

Benefits of road safety

There is nothing more to emphasise on the benefits of road safety than the existing awareness by government and social groups. Road safety prevents us from putting our and other people's precious lives at risk. Some other less popular benefits of road safety are: 

• Reduces traffic congestion: Not adhering to traffic rules is what causes nuisance on the road leading to traffic jams and obstructions.
• Protects property: Accidents cause damage to property, and road safety measures lead to a decrease in accidents thus protecting properties.
• Lower insurance costs: If the frequency of accidents decreases, the premium of insurance policies will decrease as well. 
• More peaceful experience: A peaceful driving experience with less emergency brakes and unnecessary horns will enhance the driving experience.

Overall, make sure you are also careful of the stray animals and don’t put them at risk of harm or injure them. As they are also citizens of the country under law and should not be displaced, harmed, or caused any injury. Being a responsible citizen also means that we need to respect all lives.

Conclusion

So that is everything you need to carry in your mind next time when you step out of your home. By following these road safety tips, you will be fulfilling your responsibilities and will make things easy for you and for the people around you. It is already said enough that it is better to reach late than get involved in misery, it is time to start living up to it as well. Whether you're a driver, cyclist, or pedestrian, you have to follow the rules and take necessary preventive measures to safeguard yourself and the people around you. 

FAQs

Q. Why is it important for all passengers in a car to wear seatbelts?

Ans. Seatbelts are designed to ensure safety for passengers travelling. Even a sudden brake can cause an injury if passengers are not wearing seatbelts regardless of where they are sitting.

Q. What are the key responsibilities of a responsible driver?

Ans. Not driving without a driving license, respecting traffic rules, not overspeeding, not using your cell phone while driving, and not driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Q. What should you do if you feel sleepy while driving?

Ans. You should try to get some fresh air by getting the window down or singing along with the music in your car. However, if these don't work it's best to stop your car somewhere and take a quick nap.

Q. How does weather affect braking distance and what should drivers do?

Ans. In such weather conditions, braking distance increases as friction is reduced between tyres and the road. In such situations, you should not try to speed up. Proper control of the car should be maintained by driving on lower gears. 

Q. What safety gear and practices are recommended for cyclists?

Ans. They should wear helmets and bright clothes so it is easy for motor vehicles to identify them. Moreover, during the night, they should have a light on to help them navigate. Cyclists should wear proper gear including knee and elbow pads and they should drive predictably by not changing lanes too often and must drive in the slowest lane.

Q. What are the broader benefits of following road safety measures?

Ans. Following road safety measures helps reduce traffic and noise pollution. Accident rate will decrease and hence insurance premium costs will also decrease.

References 

1. https://www.westssom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Stopping-Distances.pdf
2. https://www.drivingtests.co.nz/resources/how-to-calculate-braking-distances/