I came to Delhi in 2010 and was duly welcomed by the heavy traffic of the Capital, which left me awestruck. The fast-track lives of the people in the city was completely new for a guy who grew up in a small town. Gradually, I adapted to the environment, but the issue of road safety and traffic congestion has always hit me hard. As India marches towards the league of developed countries, it is facing many challenges as well. Road safety has emerged as one of the most formidable of these, demanding the immediate attention of citizens as well as policymakers. As the world observes the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020, the global focus has been shifted to road safety and reducing deaths and injuries. The Global Status Report on Road Safety 2018 exhibits the intensity of the problem—1.35 million precious lives are lost each year to road accidents, all over the world. However, the mental cost of road travel has not been paid due attention in India, and therefore needs to be highlighted.
Recently, India celebrated road safety week from 4-10 February to promote awareness about traffic rules amongst people to reduce casualties due to road accidents. The scenario in India is quite dismal as far as road safety is concerned, as it has recorded 1,47,913 deaths due to accidents on roads in 2017 alone. Down to Earth’s cover story in August 2015 aptly argued that one of the main reasons for such a large number of road accidents in India is the non-availability of marked spaces for pedestrians and cyclists, which compels people to walk on the roads, making them vulnerabe to oncoming traffic.
One year ago, I got an opportunity to visit and study in Chengdu city of Sichuan province in China for a semester. There, space has been specially earmarked for pedestrians and bicycle riders all over the city. Moreover, companies like Ofo and Mobike provide bicycle-sharing services across town at a marginal cost. These initiatives are appreciable not only for reducing traffic congestion but also promoting a healthy lifestyle and eco-friendly approach towards travel. Such measures and initiatives can be adopted in India.
As far as the impact of road accidents are concerned, it also affects health, insurance, and legal systems of the country. Moreover, large sections of injured person lose their jobs, which has an adverse impact on the source of livelihood for whole families. Research shows a correlation between spending a lot of time in road traffic and the likelihood of developing issues like stress, brain damage, and Alzheimer’s disease. Traffic congestion not only wastes a commuter’s crucial time, but also encourage road rage which adversely affects their health and endangers their lives. Even road traffic noise has led to disturbed sleep, headaches, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases, especially affecting elderly persons. Moreover, a case study shows that “idling at traffic lights, signalized intersections and busy junctions due to congestion causes fuel wastage”, which has a high economic cost.
I interviewed Lucknow-based psychologist Sugam Bharti to understand the impact of traffic on mental health. He is of the view that unregulated traffic becomes a source of frustration and anger for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. He further clarifies that traffic congestion and unruly behaviour from fellow drivers trigger the repressed rage of drivers and passengers. It ultimately affects the mental health of travellers and results in hostility and negative emotions towards other people which is quite evident through instances of regular verbal fights on roads.
A study concludes that unexpectedly heavy traffic has a negative mental health outcome and leads to an increase in domestic violence. Bengaluru based National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences has published a report titled “Advancing Road Safety in India: Implementation is the Key”, which argues that:
“There has been an increase in respiratory and skin related morbidities; allergies; psychosomatic effects; mental health problems such as stress, anxiety, depression; noncommunicable diseases such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes; chronic conditions such as dementia; and several others. Significantly, motorization is one of the major contributory factors for the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases in India during the last decade”.
The Centre and states both jointly need to strengthen enforcement mechanisms to bring road safety as a priority area under their policies. The mental cost of traffic congestion needs real attention from the concerned officials as it has taken a toll on our lives. Public transport and carpooling should be encouraged. Any policy would be ineffective without participation and compliance from people. Therefore, the citizens of India need to fulfill their basic civic responsibility by complying with traffic norms and regulations, to not only ensure their own safety but also of fellow citizens. Only joint efforts by individuals, society, states and the Centre can help to achieve a safer India, where precious and innocent lives can be saved with a little awareness and necessary behavioural change.