GS Paper II (Governance, Policy Implementation).

Syllabus: GS-II: Policy Implementation.

Why in the News?

Assam recorded a notable 5.9% rise in total traffic accidents in 2023, registering 8,197 cases (including road, railway, and crossing accidents), up from 7,739 in 2022, according to data released by the Central Government’s “Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) 2023” report.

More About the News

• While the state accounted for only 1.7% of total accidents nationally, the upward trend in fatalities and accident rates reflects serious gaps in transport management, enforcement, road engineering, and public awareness.
• The report highlights a worrying fact: 4,072 persons died and 5,917 were injured in traffic accidents in Assam during 2023, making road safety a major governance and policy priority in the Northeast.

Current Status of Road Accidents in Assam (2023) 

• • Total accidents (2023): 8,197 cases (includes road, railway, and crossing accidents).
    • Road accidents: 7,421 cases in 2023, up from 7,028 in 2022 (a 5.6% increase).
    • Railway accidents: 772 in 2023 versus 689 in 2022 (12% increase).
    • Railway crossing incidents: Only 4 in 2023, down from 22 in 2022.
  • Fatalities: 4,072 deaths; Injured: 5,917 persons.​
  • Demographic Insight: 2,741 of road accident victims were male; 555 were female.
    • 1,797 deaths occurred in rural areas versus 1,499 in urban sectors.
    • High incidence among the 18–45 age group, which accounted for nearly 79% of casualties.​

• Regional Disparities: National Highways: 3,427 cases, 1,564 fatalities, 2,770 injuries.

• • State Highways: 1,750 cases, 707 fatalities, 1,454 injuries.
  • Other Roads: 2,244 cases, 1,025 deaths, 1,693 injuries.

National Highways account for nearly half of Assam’s road fatalities, despite covering less than 10% of total road length — indicating high-speed risk zones and weak enforcement.

Causes of High Road Accidents in Assam

• • Poor Road Engineering and Maintenance
    • The MoRTH Report (2025) identified faulty road construction and potholes as significant contributors to mishaps on National and State Highways.
    • Frequent landslides and floods weaken road infrastructure in hill districts like Dima Hasao, Karbi Anglong, and Lakhimpur.
      
  • Over-Speeding and Reckless Driving
    • Major cause of fatal crashes, especially on Guwahati–Nagaon–Jorhat NH 37 corridor.
    • Speed violations account for ~70% of total fatal accidents nationwide (MoRTH, 2023).
      

• Drunk and Night-time Driving

• • The Assam’s CM confirmed that drunk driving and late-night road activity were key contributors to accidents before intensified enforcement in Guwahati reduced night mishaps by 15% in 2024.​
  • Strict checkpoints post-10 p.m. have resulted in fewer fatalities, yet such behavior remains prevalent along NH-37 and NH-17 corridors linking Jorhat–Guwahati.

• Inadequate Traffic Enforcement
  • Shortage of trained traffic personnel and weak enforcement of helmet, seatbelt, and drunk-driving laws.
  • Although enforcement drives have intensified, the ratio of traffic staff to vehicles remains poor (1:14,000).
    
• Rapid Urbanisation and Vehicle Growth
  • Assam saw a 9% rise in vehicle registration (Transport Dept., 2023), with Guwahati witnessing high vehicle density.
    
• Lack of Road Safety Awareness
  • Poor public awareness of road safety norms, especially in rural areas.
  • Low compliance with traffic signals, lane discipline, and pedestrian rules.
  • Around 5.5% of Assam’s road accident deaths resulted from wrong-side driving in 2023.
  • Nearly 39% of all fatalities involved two-wheeler riders, a large proportion of whom were not wearing helmets.​
  • Around 80% of victims in two-wheeler crashes were youth under 35 years, reflecting poor adoption of safety measures.
    
• Delayed Emergency Response
  • Limited trauma care centres and ambulances, particularly along rural stretches of NH-37, delays critical response times, raising fatality rates post-accident.
  • The “Golden Hour” principle was often violated due to delays in transporting victims.
    
• Geographical Constraints
  • Assam’s fog-prone winter months (December–February) register 20–25% higher accident frequency due to poor visibility and lack of reflective signage.
  • Hill terrain makes roads accident-prone due to sharp bends and unstable slopes.
    
• Pedestrian and Mixed Traffic Hazards
  • The mix of pedestrians, cyclists, and slow-moving vehicles (rickshaws, e-rickshaws) on narrow roads increases collision risk in urban centers like Guwahati and Dibrugarh.​
  • Pedestrian casualties formed 11% of total fatalities in 2023, as per state traffic department data.

Government Initiatives for Road Safety

In Assam

• Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD): Implemented in Assam to analyse accident causes and develop data-driven interventions.
• Assam Road Safety Policy (2021): Aims for “Vision Zero Fatality,” aligning with the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021–2030).
• Highway Patrols & Enforcement Automation: Introduction of AI-based speed cameras and e-challan systems along NH-27 and NH-37.
• State Road Safety Fund: Finances awareness campaigns, black spot rectification, and installation of crash barriers.
• Awareness Campaigns: ‘Sadak Suraksha–Jeevan Raksha’ initiative under the Assam Transport Department promotes helmet and seatbelt use.
  

At the National Level

• Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019:
  
  • Enhanced penalties for traffic violations.
  • Mandatory third-party insurance, electronic monitoring, and national road safety board.
    
• National Road Safety Policy (2010)
  
  • Promotes safe road infrastructure, driver training, and stricter enforcement.
    
• National Road Safety Council (NRSC):
  
  • Apex body under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) for policy coordination.
    
• National Highways Accident Relief Service Scheme (NHARSS):
  
  • Provides cranes, ambulances, and rescue teams along highways.
    
• Good Samaritan Law (2021):
  
  • Protects bystanders assisting accident victims from legal harassment.
    
• Setu Bharatam Project:
  
  • Eliminates level crossings on highways by constructing overbridges — reflected in Assam’s decline in railway crossing fatalities.
    

Sundar Committee Recommendations (2007)

The Sundar Committee on Road Safety and Traffic Management, chaired by S. Sundar, provided a comprehensive framework for improving road safety governance in India.

Key Recommendations:

• Establish a National Road Safety and Traffic Management Board (NRSTMB) — an independent body to oversee policy, planning, and enforcement.
• Dedicated Road Safety Fund — financed by a small cess on fuel or vehicle insurance.
• Scientific Accident Investigation — to identify black spots and improve design.
• Road Safety Education — mandatory modules in schools and driver licensing programs.
• Accountability Framework — making road agencies responsible for design-related fatalities.
• Integrated Emergency Care Network — to ensure trauma response within the “golden hour.”

Most of these recommendations influenced the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, but full institutional implementation remains pending.

Way Forward

• Data-Driven Interventions
  • Expand iRAD coverage across districts to identify high-risk zones.
• Engineering Solutions
  • Rectify black spots using crash barriers, reflectors, and speed-calming designs.
• Road Safety Audit
  • Mandatory audit for all highway projects in Assam under Bharatmala Pariyojana.
• Institutional Coordination
  • Strengthen collaboration between Transport, Police, PWD, and Health Departments.
• Behavioural Change Campaigns
  • Integrate road safety into school curricula and community awareness drives.
• Emergency Care Network
  • Establish trauma care centres every 100 km along National and State Highways.
• Technology Adoption
  • Use AI-based traffic monitoring, drones, and vehicle telematics to detect and prevent violations.

Conclusion

The rise in road accidents in Assam is not merely a transport issue but a public health and governance challenge. With over 4,000 fatalities in 2023, it demands urgent, multi-dimensional action — combining engineering, enforcement, education, and emergency care.

As the state invests heavily in connectivity and industrial growth under the Act East Policy, ensuring safe and sustainable transport systems becomes central to achieving long-term development.

Adopting a “Zero Fatality Vision” through data-led planning, citizen awareness, and institutional accountability can help Assam move toward safer roads and more resilient mobility systems.

Mains Practice Question

1. Despite several policy interventions, road safety in India remains a major challenge. Analyse the causes of increasing road accidents in Assam and suggest measures for a holistic improvement in traffic safety.

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