Traffic Crash Injuries and Disabilities: The Burden on Indian Society”:
The World Bank recently published its report titled “Traffic Crash Injuries and Disabilities: The Burden on Indian Society”. This report was released by Union transport minister, Nitin Gadkari, on February 13, 2021. The report mentions the disproportionate impact of a road crash on poor households. It also throws light on the links between poverty, road crashes, inequality, and vulnerable road users across India.
- The report highlights that India has only 1 percent of the world’s vehicles. Even though it accounts for 11 percent of the global death due to road accidents. It stands highest death toll in the world because of road accidents.
- The world bank report highlighted that the road crash deaths among rural poor households account for 44 percent.
- While, the road crash death among urban poor households accounts for 11.6 percent.
- The report further highlights that the low-income household spends seven months of its income on post-road crash care.
- It also states a high-income household spends less than a month’s salary on post-road crash care.
- The report reveals that the socio-economic burden of road crashes is disproportionately borne by poor households.
- It also reveals that the women bore the brunt of caregiving after a crash.
- This results in more financial and mental stress which exacerbates the inequality of opportunities.
