India and Powered two-wheelers
Motorcycles represent an important means of transportation due to the growing overcrowding of the urban areas and the requirement for more time and energy efficient means of transportation. India is the World’s leading two-wheeler manufacturer by volume and home to the worlds largest and the world’s oldest powered two-wheeler manufacturers. Around 2 million two-wheelers are being manufactured in India annually. Though this seems to be beneficial for the economy of India, it cause a whole lot of other problems such as overcrowding, increased accidents and lack of safety standards.
Indian Powered Two-Wheeler Market:
There are an estimated 313 million Powered Two-Wheelers(PTW) globally with 77% of them in Asia. According to numbers released by individual Indian powered two-wheeler manufacturers; cumulatively they have crossed 20-million unit sales in the fiscal year 2018. This sales mark has been breached by cumulative numbers of only six OEMs. As per industry statistics compiled by Autocar India, cumulative market sales data of the top six bike makers for fiscal year 2017-18 stacks up to 2,00,06,406 units, which is a robust 15.98 percent year-on-year growth.
Increase in Two-wheeler Accidents in India:
Increase in the number of the PTWs has led to increased PTW accidents in India. Two-wheelers are the most vulnerable and unprotected road users killed in road accidents. Two wheelers accounted for the highest number of road accidents in India of 33.38% in 2016 which is an increase of 5% from the previous year and Globally there are around 2,00,000 deaths in accidents involving powered two wheelers. Two-wheelers accounted also for the highest number of fatalities in road accidents of which has increased from 31.5% in 2015 to 34.8% in 2016.(morth 2016)
Though the Indian governmnet has mandated disk brakes and Abs on all powered two-wheelers by April 2020, I personally think that this would only make a small difference in improving the accident rates. According to statistics the major cause of Bike accidents are due to improper roads, lack of visibility of the motorcyclist to heavy vehicles and of course, lack of concentration of the rider while riding.
Separate lanes for motorcyclists could be provided and a speed limit should be set so that the motorcyclists do not travel close to other heavy vehicles. The roads should be mended or laid properly to avoid manholes where water stagnates during rainy seasons. The markings on the roads should be clear and visible even during low visibility conditions. The people should be made aware of the benefits of using riding safety gears such as riding gloves, good quality helmets, Jackets, shoes etc. which would help to reduce to intensity of the impact during collision and protect from life threatening injuries. The Government could advice the OEMs to develop Autonomous safety systems for two-wheelers to reduce to front end collisions due to human errors.