On Thursday, the Indian government was honored with the Prince Michael Decade of Action Road Safety Award, the most prestigious recognition in the sector, for its strides in improving vehicle safety over the last ten years. Key initiatives that contributed to this achievement include the introduction of a new vehicle safety assessment system and the mandatory integration of ABS (anti-lock braking system) in all newly manufactured two-wheelers.
The Kingdom of Morocco was also recognized with the same award. The accolades were presented at the 4th Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Marrakech, where global leaders convened to strategize ways to reduce road accident fatalities by 50% by 2030.
Ajay Tamta, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, accepted the award on behalf of India from Etienne Krug of the World Health Organization. During the ceremony, it was highlighted that since the first independent crash test ratings of Indian vehicles were conducted in 2014, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has been working to establish a comprehensive framework for vehicle safety regulations.
In 2018, the ministry outlined a roadmap to align India’s vehicle safety norms with European standards by 2023. While significant progress has been made, the country continues to face challenges, particularly the high number of road fatalities involving pedestrians and two-wheeler riders. Unlike developed nations, where most fatalities occur inside vehicles, India recorded 173,000 road-related deaths in 2023, emphasizing the need for continued improvements in road safety measures.
