New Delhi road safety declaration targets 50% cut in fatalities by 2030
The New Delhi Road Safety Declaration was released on Thursday at the National Road Safety Confluence held at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. Aligned with the WHO Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021–2030), the Declaration commits stakeholders to measurable, accountable action to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by at least 50 per cent by 2030, with a long-term goal of achieving zero preventable road fatalities in India.
The inaugural session was graced by Dr Mats-Åke Belin, Global Lead — Decade of Action for Road Safety, World Health Organisation (WHO), who stated: “Road safety is now firmly on the global agenda, with strong political and media attention.
Our responsibility is to move beyond awareness and ensure consistent, evidence-based implementation so that no country is left behind in preventing road traffic deaths.” V Umashankar, Secretary (Road Transport and Highways), Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, emphasised: “As a nation, we cannot accept road fatalities as inevitable.
Each accident is personal; each loss preventable. Awareness is not enough — what we need is organised, district-level action, backed by certainty of enforcement and supported by strong institutions. When compliance becomes habit and accountability becomes certain, road safety will move from intention to impact.”
The Confluence was hosted by BARS — Bharat Association of Road Safety Volunteers — an independent, science-driven institution bringing together samaaj (civil society), sarkaar (Government), and bazaar (industry) to scale effective road safety practices across India, with WRI India as knowledge partner.
Speaking at the Confluence, Rama Shankar Pandey, Chairman of BARS, said: “Road safety is not merely a transport issue; it is a governance responsibility and a moral obligation. The New Delhi Declaration represents a shift from isolated initiatives to coordinated, accountable action at India scale.”
India records the highest road fatalities globally, with vulnerable road users — such as pedestrians, cyclists, two-wheeler riders, gig workers, and rural communities —most affected. Despite several initiatives, the absence of coordinated, institution-led action limits national impact. The New Delhi Road Safety Declaration addresses this gap by adopting a safe systems approach, placing human life at the centre of all mobility decisions.
