Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, known for his bold public statements, recently proposed recognizing and rewarding traffic law-abiding individuals. He shared this initiative at a recent event, aiming to encourage safer road behavior across India.

"I conducted a successful experiment in Nagpur," Gadkari stated. "Individuals who stopped at every traffic light and did not violate laws received discount vouchers. While wrongdoers face penalties, those who follow the rules often go unrecognized. We must support law-abiding citizens to encourage more such examples."

The minister noted the Nagpur pilot project offered significant benefits to road users. He added that this initiative aims to change driver behavior, potentially reducing traffic accidents and fatalities in the long run.

Vehicles bumper-to-bumper on a Delhi road. *PTI*

India records approximately 500,000 traffic accidents and nearly 180,000 fatalities annually, with 66% of victims aged 18-34, according to the minister. He emphasized that traffic safety rests on four pillars: road engineering, automotive engineering, law enforcement, and human behavior. While the first three are crucial, human behavior is equally vital and remains a leading cause of accidents.

The minister identified running red lights, driving against traffic, using phones while driving, not wearing helmets, and improper lane usage as primary accident causes. He added that speeding results in about 120,000 deaths annually, and not wearing motorcycle helmets accounts for over 54,000 fatalities.

This pilot initiative seeks to reduce accidents by rewarding traffic law compliance. For the Nagpur project, the minister confirmed that residents received discount vouchers redeemable at department stores, shopping malls, restaurants, and other affiliated brands. He did not, however, detail how authorities identified law-abiding road users or ensured eligible drivers received these incentives.

During the event, Nitin Gadkari also called on Uber to train its drivers for responsible traffic behavior. He suggested that educating drivers on road etiquette and civilized conduct would improve both the company's and the drivers' reputations.

Cartoq reports that while new highways are expanding connectivity across India, traffic accidents and collisions are also rising. This increase is largely attributed to driver behavior, as many individuals exhibit impatience and a tendency to speed, contributing significantly to accidents.

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