{"id":931,"date":"2020-11-09T14:39:50","date_gmt":"2020-11-09T09:09:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opiniown.com\/?p=931"},"modified":"2020-11-09T16:30:27","modified_gmt":"2020-11-09T11:00:27","slug":"motor-vehicle-insurance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/opiniown.com\/motor-vehicle-insurance\/","title":{"rendered":"Do We Need Motor Vehicle Insurance? Industry Experts Discuss"},"content":{"rendered":"

Insurance & risk management veteran Faruk Vhora, and Mallika Vhora, expert in the field of health & insurance discuss road safety in India and why motor vehicle insurance may be more necessary than you think.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"car-insurance-auto-motor-vehicle\"<\/p>\n

Road Safety in India<\/h2>\n

India tops the list in terms of the number of accidents on the road all over the world considering the ratio of the number of people and the incidences taking place. In 2015, there were about five lakh road accidents in India, which killed about 1.5 lakh people and injured about five lakh people. However, this is probably an underestimate, as not all injuries are reported to the police. The actual numbers of injuries requiring hospital visits may be 2,000,000-3,000,000 persons.<\/p>\n

With the swift increase in the number of vehicles on the road, the traffic conditions are under a lot of pressure. Since 2000, while road length has increased by 39%, number of motor vehicles have increased by 158%.<\/p>\n

Drivers are held responsible for 78% of accidents; 3% accidents are caused by neglect of civic bodies.<\/p>\n

Therefore, road safety is one of the most serious public health issues in our country. It has an bearing on everyone, whether one drives a vehicle, walks or rides a cycle.<\/p>\n

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  1. \n

    Some of the major causes of road accidents are as follows \u2013 Risk Profile<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
    • Lack of highway safety<\/li>\n
    • Drunken driving<\/li>\n
    • Driving in an exhausted\/fatigued state for long hours<\/li>\n
    • Distracted driving using cell phones<\/li>\n
    • Over speeding or rash driving<\/li>\n
    • Driving in wrong lanes<\/li>\n
    • Turning without giving signal<\/li>\n
    • Overtaking from wrong side<\/li>\n
    • Flaws in road design<\/li>\n
    • Lagged vehicle safety<\/li>\n
    • Poor usage of helmets in case of 2 wheelers<\/li>\n
    • Poor compliance to seat belt legislation<\/li>\n
    • Flaws in placement of road safety signages<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Road safety specimens:<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      • Flouting lane discipline at major toll gates<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        \"motor-vehicle-toll-plaza\"Issue observed:<\/strong> Large commercial tanker entering toll gate demarcated for LCV\/LMV.<\/p>\n

        Impact:<\/strong> Traffic queues owing to large vehicle blocking lane<\/p>\n

        Mitigation Strategy:<\/strong><\/p>\n

        Toll authorities to ensure passage of vehicles in demarcated lanes at all given times.<\/p>\n

        Onus on drivers of LCV\/LMV\/HMVs to follow lane discipline and ensure smooth flow of traffic at Toll gates<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

          \n
        • Non-Functional Toll lanes\/gates<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          \"motor-vehicle-toll-plaza--1\"Issue Observed: <\/strong>Frequent closure of Toll lanes due to infra\/technology\/human issues<\/p>\n

          Impact: <\/strong>Traffic mismanagement, delays in toll collection and wastage of fuel consumed during standby<\/p>\n

          Mitigation Strategy:<\/strong><\/p>\n

          Toll authorities to ensure upkeep and maintenance of toll infrastructure always<\/p>\n

          Timely checks to be undertaken to ensure lane movement is free of impediments<\/p>\n

          Planned repair and maintenance activities to be undertaken in a phase wise manner<\/p>\n

            \n
          • Common Public flouting Helmet regulations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            \"car-insurance-auto-motor-cycle-without-helmet\" Issue Observed:<\/strong> Bike riders avoiding usage of Helmets in city as well as on highway conditions<\/p>\n

            Impact:<\/strong> Serious risk of grave injury and even death in case of accidents involving bikers<\/p>\n

            Mitigation Strategy:<\/strong><\/p>\n

            Practicing safe riding by wearing helmets for both rider and pillion rider as well<\/p>\n

            Enforcing fines for offenders and stricter measures for repeat offenders by means of cancellation of license or revocation for a temporary period<\/p>\n

              \n
            • Carriage of objects not fit to be carried on certain vehicles on highways<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              \"motor-vehicle-truck-heavy\"Issue observed: <\/strong>Commercial vehicles carrying sharp objects\/goods in an unsecured and uncovered manner<\/p>\n

              Impact:<\/strong> Serious risk of accidents\/injuries if any loose object falls off or vehicles crash into such a commercial vehicle<\/p>\n

              Mitigation Strategy:<\/strong><\/p>\n

              Commercial enterprises to ensure goods are carried by adopting safety measures and quality packaging.<\/p>\n

              Cars\/Bikes trailing such dangerous commercial vehicles should maintain adequate distance to ensure no collision. In extreme cases, other vehicles should alert traffic authorities about such irregularities<\/p>\n

                \n
              • Carriage of hazardous goods on highways along with passenger lanes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                \"motor-vehicle-hazardous-goods-truck-india\"Issue observed:<\/strong> Commercial vehicles carrying hazardous<\/p>\n

                Inflammable goods on highways along with other commercial<\/p>\n

                and passenger carrying vehicles.<\/p>\n

                Impact:<\/strong> Serious risk of accidents\/injuries can happen in case of<\/p>\n

                collision with another vehicle, explosion, spillage, leakage of<\/p>\n

                hazardous chemical, oil, gas etc.<\/p>\n

                Mitigation Strategy:<\/h4>\n

                Standards for commercial vehicles carrying hazardous cargoes to be set with strict implications and permit to be checked at all main check posts.<\/p>\n

                The timing for transportation of such cargoes should not be allowed during peak passenger carrying hours and in passenger carrying lanes.<\/p>\n

                  \n
                1. \n

                  Role of Government and Public Sector <\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                    \n
                  • Develop stricter road safety polices<\/li>\n
                  • Generate funds for road safety awareness<\/li>\n
                  • Stricter enforcement of rules by government<\/li>\n
                  • Building better roads and highways<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                      \n
                    1. \n

                      Role of General Community <\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                        \n
                      • Acceptance of road safety rules, regulations and policies<\/li>\n
                      • Participation in road safety awareness drives to enhance people\u2019s knowledge about road safety<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                          \n
                        1. \n

                          Hurdles in Road Safety <\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                            \n
                          • Negligence by civilians<\/li>\n
                          • Pathetic condition of roads<\/li>\n
                          • Unsafe vehicle design for commercial vehicles<\/li>\n
                          • Violation of road safety standards<\/li>\n
                          • Lack of emergency services<\/li>\n
                          • Defects in highway designing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                              \n
                            1. \n

                              Profile of Road safety issues\/accidents<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                                \n
                              • Inability to follow lane discipline whilst on highways<\/li>\n
                              • Large commercial vehicles flouting major laws\/ road directives<\/li>\n
                              • Carriage of dangerous objects in an unsecured manner<\/li>\n
                              • Poor adoption of Fastags<\/li>\n
                              • Improper adoption of Toll directives<\/li>\n
                              • Rash driving on flyovers\/subways<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                Way forward for ensuring Safe Roads and Travel in India<\/h2>\n