The research, published in The British Medical Journal (BMJ) Injury Prevention, is the first global qualitative evidence synthesis on why people speed. With rapid growth in car and motorcycle ownership, combined with limited public transportation, speeding and its deadly consequences are worsening
Mumbai-Nashik Expressway. FILE PIC/SATEJ SHINDE
Speeding is not just about ignoring rules but is also shaped by social pressure, poor road design and weak enforcement systems, a research study based on evidence from nine countries by the George Institute of Global Health, New Delhi, has found. Global evidence shows that every 10 km/h reduction in average vehicle speed reduces the risk of a fatal crash by up to 40 per cent, making speed management one of the most powerful tools for saving lives.
The research, published in The British Medical Journal (BMJ) Injury Prevention, is the first global qualitative evidence synthesis on why people speed. With rapid growth in car and motorcycle ownership, combined with limited public transportation, speeding and its deadly consequences are worsening.
These insights are highly relevant for India, which continues to record the highest number of road crash deaths worldwide. In 2023 alone, there were over 4,80,000 crashes and 1,72,000 deaths — roughly 55 crashes and 20 deaths every hour. Aligning with the UN’s Second Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021-2030), the study notes the urgent need for smarter, stronger speed management strategies to halve deaths and injuries by 2030. The study also noted that these findings reflect perceptions from diverse global contexts and may not apply equally everywhere.
Addressing Indian drivers, Jagnoor Jagnoor, Co-director of the WHO Injury Collaborating Centre, said, “Speeding is not a marker of a nation’s development, the true measure is how much we value human life. Staying within limits isn’t about being slow; it is about making sure everyone gets home safely.” The researchers have recommended stronger enforcement, including automated systems like cameras and speed radars; road design that naturally slows traffic, including narrower lanes, speed bumps and roundabouts.
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