Helmet Man of India, Raghavendra Kumar, has sent a letter to the President and Prime Minister regarding this. While MotoGP races are a source of excitement for affluent countries, for India, they represent a perilous pace. MotoGP races have only been held in 30 countries so far, with India set to be the 31st. The countries where this race has been held have a robust foundation for road safety. They have separate tracks for pedestrians and cyclists, and higher speed limits for cars and motorcycles. Road accidents are significantly fewer in these countries, thanks to the agencies working diligently on road safety.
India already ranks highest in global death tolls due to road accidents. The government is focusing on strengthening the fundamental framework for road safety and implementing safety laws. Road accidents account for a 4% loss in India’s GDP annually. Although India has only about 2% of the world’s vehicles, it bears responsibility for over 11% of global road traffic fatalities. There are no specific safety laws for pedestrians and cyclists in India, making up over three-fourths of road accident fatalities in the country. Additionally, the lack of an emergency response system contributes to the high numbers. India still requires vigilance from both sides while crossing roads.
Despite most states having their road safety policies, there is no major agency in India dedicated to effectively implementing road safety strategies. In India, over 50% of the population still travels by bicycle. After West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh stands second with 75.6% of people using bicycles for commuting. According to accident statistics, Uttar Pradesh leads among all states. Since the Formula One track was established in Gautam Buddha Nagar district, there has been a consistent rise in road accidents, mainly due to overspeeding by the youth. The popularity of speed bikes surged in India after the release of the movie ‘Dhoom’ in 2004. This led to an increase in noise pollution from bike silencers. Even bikes with plain seats underwent modifications to align with stylish trends, attracting people in India.
According to the Ministry of Transport, 76.2% of those killed in road accidents in India fall between the age group of 18 to 45, who are the main workforce. In countries like India with low and middle-income status, there exists a clear correlation between social economic status and road usage patterns. Therefore, the probability of low-income individuals being involved in road accidents is higher. Road accidents, much like COVID-19, are negatively impacting India’s social and economic landscape. The Ministry of Transport in India has declared it to be equally detrimental as COVID-19. Minister Nitin Gadkari pledged to reduce road accidents by 50% in 2020-2021, but later stated that due to lack of cooperation from state governments, the goal was not achieved. Saving one life amounts to a saving of 90 lakhs (9 million) rupees. Road accidents are burdening the Indian society with a rising number of minor disabilities. The Ministry of Road Transport is working on policies to safeguard the interests of the poor in this perilous scenario.
Strengthening the Road Safety Report in India poses significant challenges. I have been fighting against road accidents for the past 9 years, touring the roads of India to save the lives of Indian youth. Since the loss of my friend on the Noida Expressway 9 years ago, I vowed to befriend every citizen before turning them into smart road users. In this fight, I have distributed more than 56,000 helmets on Indian roads from my own pocket. I have saved hundreds of lives and successfully reached my mission to millions, making the world recognize us by the name ‘Helmet Man of India’. MotoGP races could potentially increase the speed on our Indian roads. This could escalate the fatality rate on our roads, as regular citizens share the same roads with speeding vehicles. Even after 77 years of independence, 40% of Indians remain deprived of education. 90% of people are not aware of road traffic rules. Therefore, organizing such thrilling races could lead to significant revenue loss for India and adversely affect the lives and property of 90% of the population.”
Raghvendra Kumar, India’s ‘helmet man‘ who left job, sold his house to distribute free helmets. Raghvendra Kumar has been distributing helmets to two-wheeler owners for free since 2014.
