As part of Maruti Suzuki India Road Safety Mission, the largest Indian car maker has introduced a yearly Road Safety Index that rates major Indian cities on key road safety parameters like motor laws, traffic control, pedestrian rights, etc. This year, the study was conducted over a period of 3 months and took feedback from 6,000 people who live in these cities. 15 prominent locations in each city, including malls, bus stops and other busy areas of the city were analysed.
Every year, the winning cities are applauded for setting an example for the rest of the nation. The aim of the Road Safety Index is to appreciate the good work that is being done around the country to make our roads safer and to spark change in the minds of the people – so that eventually India can have the #HappyRoads we all deserve.
Road Safety Index Winners and Their Overall Index Rating
Pedestrian Rights – Raipur – 70.40
Road Lighting & Maintenance – Kolkata – 74.90
Road Transport Infrastructure – Ahmedabad – 72.10
Road Safety – Raipur – 73.60
Road Safety for Children – Kolkata – 73.15
Heavy Vehicle Traffic Management – Ahmedabad – 78.80
Road Cleanliness – Indore – 71.90
Connectivity – Delhi – 85.50
Emergency Services – Ahmedabad – 74.05
Road Quality – Delhi – 78.30
Differently Abled Friendly – Mumbai – 67.50
Motor Laws & Traffic Control – Chennai – 70.65
We thought it would be fun to ask some motorists from the winning cities what they thought of the Maruti Suzuki Road Safety Index results. This is what they had to say.
Mehul Bhatt, Ahmedabad One of the good things about living in Ahmedabad are the roads. The traffic mostly moves with ease, thanks to the flyovers and underbridges in the city. Also, heavy vehicle mobility is well managed as large vehicles are allotted specific hours to trail across the city.
Vani Bisht, Delhi I’m from Dehradun, studied in Pune and working in Delhi now. Having lived in three different states and cities, I would say Delhi is by far the best in terms of traffic and connectivity. Whether travelling in a bus, metro or one’s own vehicle, the city provides great roads and accessibility for free movement. Jams during peak hours do happen. But the rides are so smooth that the pain of getting stuck in a jam is way less than other cities.
Akilkumar Padmanaban, Chennai The Chennai traffic police is quite innovative, they even use CCTV cameras in some areas to record traffic violations. I think road safety is super important but when you’re in a hurry, you forget all this. The best way to make the roads safe is to educate the motorists, because once following traffic rules becomes a habit for every driver, most of the road accidents can be prevented.
Sanjeevani Wagh, Mumbai I am happy to know that my city ranks at the top of disabled-friendly cities. Our buses have seats reserved for the disabled, our trains have compartments reserved for the physically handicapped. However, I think there is a long way to go for Bombay to be a completely disabled friendly city. For instance,there are ticket windows at a lower height at some local train stations, I would love to see more of these at every station.
Pankaj Singh, Kolkata As a father, it feels good to know that my city’s roads are the safest for children. When it comes to road safety, we don’t think about the children, even though they are the most vulnerable. I feel helmets need to be made mandatory for children travelling on two-wheelers.
Let’s hope the authorities are taking note while we pledge to do our own bit towards happier, safer Indian roads. For more information about the Maruti Suzuki’s initiative and the Road Safety Index click here.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)