Page 18 - Insurance Times September 2023

Vision Zero

and

Insurance

Nandita Banerjee
Former Manager
National Insurance Co. Ltd.

Statistics relating to the casualties in traffic-accidents in India paint a grim picture. They result in
over 150,000 deaths every year in India. This works out on an average to 1130 accidents and
422 deaths every day. Moreover, India, which is home to the largest population of children in the
world, loses about 31 children every day to road traffic crashes.

Introduction right and works to develop appropriate road-way systems.
Vision Zero started in Sweden and was approved by their
Statistics relating to the casualties in traffic-accidents in India
Parliament in the year 1997. This movement intends to
paint a grim picture. They result in over 150,000 deaths
eliminate fatalities and serious injuries from road traffic.
every year in India. This works out on an average to 1130
accidents and 422 deaths every day. Moreover, India, which
Vision Zero is based on an underlying ethical principle that
is home to the largest population of children in the world,
no traffic death or serious injury is acceptable. There can
loses about 31 children every day to road traffic crashes.
be no divergence of views on this concept. This approach
has received global acceptance after its adoption in Sweden,
Road-traffic accidents have a huge social and financial
Europe as well as the UK. The traditional road safety
impact on society. Apart from the loss of lives and the
approach has been based on road users bearing complete
resultant emotional trauma, they also affect low and middle-
responsibility for their own safety.
income households badly. When a family loses its bread-
winner or a child or an adult is maimed or crippled it imposes
However, Vision Zero represents a change in this mind-set
a huge burden of care on the family. This takes a toll on their
slender resources and pushes them further into poverty. by emphasizing that both transportation system designers
and road users share this responsibility together. Thus the
onus for safety does not fall entirely on the users of roads.
It is in this backdrop of recurrent fatalities and serious
injuries, that the importance of Vision Zero can be best And importantly, it imposes responsibilities on the planners
and designers to eliminate fatalities and accidents. This
appreciated.
approach has been found to be a more effective way to
prevent traffic casualties than other techniques.
The Vision Zero Concept
Vision Zero is a multi-national road safety project in its own Statistics from many countries indicated that cities that

16 September 2023 The Insurance Times