Certainty of enforcement, not just awareness, crucial to road safety push: Road transport secretary
Times of India
by TNNFebruary 19, 2026
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Union Road Transport Secretary V Umashankar emphasized that mere awareness campaigns are insufficient to address road safety issues in India. He stressed the importance of "certainty of enforcement" as a more effective deterrent against traffic violations. Speaking at the release of the New Delhi Road Safety Declaration, Umashankar highlighted examples such as underage drivers and illegal vehicle modifications contributing to fatal accidents, questioning whether lack of awareness was truly the issue. He underscored the need for organized district-level actions backed by strong enforcement mechanisms and institutional support to make compliance a habit.
The declaration, aligned with the World Health Organization's Decade of Action for Road Safety, aims to reduce road fatalities by adopting a "Safe System" approach. India currently leads global road traffic deaths, disproportionately affecting vulnerable users like pedestrians, cyclists, two-wheeler riders, gig workers, and rural communities. Despite various initiatives, a lack of coordinated, institution-led efforts has hindered progress. The declaration sets five pillars for action: strengthening road safety management, promoting safer vehicles and fleets, encouraging safer road user behavior, enhancing post-crash response, and creating a safer driving environment.
Umashankar also pointed out that 45% of fatalities involve two-wheelers due to riders not wearing helmets, despite awareness campaigns. He stressed the need for consistent enforcement to ensure compliance becomes second nature. Mats-Ake Belin from WHO highlighted road safety's global importance, emphasizing the need for evidence-based implementation to prevent traffic deaths worldwide.
The declaration calls for coordinated efforts involving ministries, multilateral agencies, civil society, academia, industry bodies, and youth groups. It seeks to move beyond awareness by ensuring sustained, impactful action to save lives and improve mobility systems in India and globally. This initiative is crucial as road safety remains a pressing issue, with vulnerable communities bearing the brunt of accidents due to enforcement gaps and unsafe practices.
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/19/2026