New Delhi, Nov 13 (IANS) Road accidents kill 33 people every hour in southeast Asia — and the highest number of these deaths are reported in India, a World Health Organisation (WHO) report has said.
The WHO report released Friday on the eve of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (Nov 14) said that the number of road traffic injuries also has been rising rapidly in the region. The survey was based on figures provided by 11 Southeast Asian countries.

“As many as 288,768 people were killed on the roads in the region and almost 73 percent of this burden belongs to India,” said Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO Regional Director for Southeast Asia.

The study also found that of the total number of road accident deaths, almost two-third were motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists.

Emphasising the need for taking safety measures for two- and three-wheeler drivers, the study said that progress has been made towards protecting people in cars, the safety needs of motorcyclists, pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable groups are not being met in the region.

The highest mortality rate per 100,000 population was observed in Thailand followed by Myanmar and Maldives.

Raising serious questions over implementation of road safety laws in the region, the study said: “Only three countries in the region have drink-driving laws. Helmet laws exist in more than 90 percent of the countries but only 60 percent stipulate that helmets need to meet a specific safety standard.”

“Only 30 percent have laws that require all car occupants to wear seat belts, while most do not have any law requiring the use of child restraints (child seats and booster seats). Where laws on these risk factors are in place, they are often inadequately enforced,” it said.

The report stated that the road accidents put a huge economic burden on the countries as most of the people killed on the roads are young and aged between 15 and 44 years, which corresponds to the economically most productive segment of the population.

The estimated annual cost of road accidents and injuries on India is Rs.550 billion.

Plianbangchang said appropriate land use planning and other measures could save hundreds of thousands of lives.

“Such measures include sidewalks, raised crossings and separate lanes for two-wheelers, investment in public transport, reducing drink-driving and speeding, increasing the use of helmets, including by women and children, use of seat belts and child restraints in cars, improving trauma care and safe behaviour for pedestrians,” he added.