How do recurring road accidents on expressways reflect gaps in urban transport planning and enforcement?

Recurring road accidents on expressways like the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway highlight significant shortcomings in urban transport planning and enforcement. These incidents not only cause loss of life but also indicate deeper systemic issues in how cities design, manage, and regulate their transport infrastructure.

• Inadequate Road Design and Infrastructure: Many expressways lack proper signage, lighting, pedestrian crossings, and barriers. Poorly designed entry and exit points can lead to confusion and collisions.
• Insufficient Traffic Management: Absence of intelligent traffic management systems, like speed cameras and real-time monitoring, makes it difficult to enforce speed limits and traffic rules effectively.
• Poor Integration with Urban Planning: Expressways are often not well-integrated with other modes of transport or urban layouts, leading to unsafe crossings for pedestrians and two-wheelers entering high-speed zones.
• Weak Law Enforcement: Lack of strict enforcement of traffic laws, such as over-speeding, drunk driving, and seatbelt use, contributes to reckless driving behavior.
• Neglect of Road Safety Audits: Regular safety audits and maintenance are often ignored, resulting in potholes, broken dividers, and faded lane markings that increase accident risks.
• Limited Public Awareness: There is often inadequate public education about safe driving practices, especially on high-speed expressways.
• Emergency Response Gaps: Delays in medical and rescue response due to lack of coordinated emergency services on expressways can worsen the outcomes of accidents.