UNICEF Unveils National Roadmap for Child and Adolescent Road Safety in India.
International
On February 4, 2025, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), in partnership with the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre (WHOCC) for Injury Prevention and Safety, launched the 'National Roadmap to Address Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) Among Children and Adolescents in India' at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- RTIs remain the leading cause of death among children and adolescents, accounting for 10% of all road crash fatalities in India.
- The roadmap outlines a multi-sectoral action plan focusing on road safety management, vehicular regulations, school safety initiatives, and improved post-crash care to enhance child and adolescent road safety in India.
- On average, 45 children under 18 years old lose their lives in road crashes daily, with 16,443 fatalities recorded in 2022 alone. Additionally, 5 million children suffer non-fatal injuries annually, requiring hospitalization.
Main Point :- (i) Between 2011 and 2022, approximately 1.98 lakh children and adolescents lost their lives in road crashes, with 75% of fatalities occurring among 14-17-year-olds. Head injuries remain the leading cause of death, with 50% of deaths occurring at the scene.
(ii) Unsafe road conditions, lack of helmet use, and low adoption of Child Restraint Systems (CRS) significantly contribute to the crisis. Additionally, over half of safety-rated cars in India have a child-occupant safety rating of 3 stars or less, posing further risks.
(iii) Only 20% of large government hospitals in India have pediatric ICU facilities to handle road crash injuries. NIMHANS plans to establish a polytrauma center in North Bengaluru, which will serve as a state-of-the-art Level 1 trauma center to enhance emergency care.
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