Urgent Need for an Efficient Road Infrastructure and Meaningful Traffic Rules and Regulations | Towards Road to Safety | IRTE

An alarming 410 deaths take place on Indian roads every day. That’s around 1,50,000 in a year - equivalent to the entire population of many small-sized countries in the world. So virtually, it’s like a country being wiped out! So, wherein lies the problem? Traffic rules and regulations not being followed? Poor road engineering? Faulty signages and traffic signals? Inadequate and outdated road safety equipment? Lack of training? Inconclusive and skewed rules? Corrupt law enforcers? A general apathy in the system?

The answer is, all the above. There is an urgent need to look at our country’s road network in entirety – roads, equipment, vehicles and people and make drastic changes quickly.
The Indian roads and the Indian people are in dire need of a reprieve. The alarming increase in the numbers of accidents and deaths indicate that merely increasing fines and penalties are futile and self-limiting. Only when coupled with improving the road infrastructure can the traffic laws in India stand a chance of making a positive difference on the roads.


How to encourage road users to follow the traffic laws in India?

Following the traffic rules and regulations is a must for all road users. However, there are many factors at play on Indian roads which act as a deterrent to people obeying the traffic laws.

Here are some measures that, if taken, will help and encourage people to follow the rules.


  • Improve the existing road infrastructure by
  1. Researching on the faulty and pothole-ridden roads. 
  2. Understanding the identified road vis-à-vis its surroundings, other road networks leading to it, volume and type of traffic etc.
  3. Taking quick corrective measures.
  • Conduct extensive research on the road signages and other equipment like radar guns, cameras etc. A majority are faulty and do not conform to the prescribed codes laid down by the United Nations. Bring them up to the laid down criteria.



  • Make the laws governing the traffic rules and regulations relevant and meaningful. The law should consider the current road environment before deciding on penalties and fines.



  • Additionally, the language of these laws should not lend itself open to rampant misinterpretation by corrupt officials, causing harassment to road users.
  • There is an urgent need to train the traffic police officials so that they can do their duty well. 
  • Even the road users need to be trained so that they are made conversant with the traffic rules and regulations. 


Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE) is a research-based not-for-profit organization. It has spent the last 28 years towards scientifically improving all domains of traffic management and making Indian roads safer.
Encouraging people to follow traffic laws in India can only gain ground if the above critical measures are put into action meaningfully.

Author : Rohina Chawla

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