Hyderabad: The World Health Organisation is set to monitor road traffic in the city for the next 10 years. Hyderabad is one of the two Indian cities selected by the WHO to implement its road safety project, which aims at making the city and its adjoining areas in Ranga Reddy district safe for motorists and pedestrians.

The world’s umbrella health body has zeroed in on Hyderabad as fatalities due to road accidents figure on the list of top 10 causes of death. The project will focus on a number of road safety aspects, including setting up of high class trauma care centre and providing specialised training for traffic policemen and the public. The WHO will develop a training package for pre-hospital and trauma care

“The intervention for the first year will be on increasing helmet use, through strengthening law enforcement, social marketing, and using advocacy to increase political and citizens’ awareness on the issue,” Dr J. Thakur, of the WHO said. “In the second year data on drunken driving will be collected. A working group is being set up, chaired by the secretary, Union ministry of health and family welfare.”

Trauma care facilities will be improved in the city through training of casualty staff using internationally recognised and accredited training courses.

A WHO document on road safety in the city and other parts of the country points out that “a heterogeneous traffic mix that includes high-speed vehicles sharing the road space with vulnerable road users as well as unsafe road infrastructure and vehicles that are in poor condition all contribute to the high fatality rates”

Almost one-third of the road traffic fatalities in the city involve those driving two- and three- wheelers. Alcohol is another major risk factor for crashes. The road traffic fatality rate is as high as 16.8 deaths per one lakh of population. Almost half of all deaths are among motorcyclists and pedestrians.

Source:June 21, 2011, Deccan Chronicle