Mapping Road Traffic Injury in India: Causes, Prevention, Economic Impact, and Role of Public Health Governance

Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) represent the main reason for fatalities globally and are acknowledged as a significant national health problem. RTIs affect the victims and also have a profound impact on the family and relations. The socio-economic conditions of families, and consequently society and the nation, are negatively influenced by these incidents. A significant number of deaths on the roads involve cyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians. The prevalence of RTIs is particularly high in African and other middle-income countries, while developed nations experience comparatively fewer incidents. Each year, RTIs result in approximately 1.2 million deaths worldwide (WHO, 2018), marking them as a primary, preventable cause of mortality. Global attention has shifted towards the critical need for road safety, particularly with the endorsement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Implementing robust legal enforcement could lead to behavioural changes among road users. India ranks among the highest in the world for road accident-related fatalities. Adhering to safety measures such as using helmets, wearing seat belts, maintaining appropriate speeds, and following traffic regulations would significantly reduce Road Traffic Injuries. Stakeholders in road safety must be made aware of the economic costs, Disability Adjusted Life Year (DALY), and human losses associated with RTIs and their repercussions. This paper aims to outline the existing RTI situation, its causes, preventive strategies, magnitude of economic burden, costs involved in RTI, catastrophic health expenditure, Return on Investment (RoI) in Trauma Care Systems, Financing mechanisms, Governance, and the Health sector's role in addressing RTIs. The findings indicate that road accidents are the predominant reason for mortality in India (with many incidents being underreported or undocumented), and the state must take a proactive approach to tackle this issue by fostering strong connections among various stakeholders, while the health sector should implement a multifaceted strategy to manage RTIs.