On 24 July in New Delhi, road safety experts described the state of road safety in the country as alarming and stressed the urgent need for practical, scalable and cost-effective measures to prevent accidents. They said a focus on affordable, evidence-based interventions in urban areas can substantially reduce road fatalities. The assessment emerged at a conference organised by the India chapter of the International Road Federation (IRF). The experts said the approach should be evidence-driven and tailored to local conditions across different city contexts.

At the meeting, IIT Delhi professor emeritus Geetam Tiwari highlighted road markings that improve night-time visibility as a high-impact, low-cost measure for urban streets. Delegates discussed the use of reflective paint, improved signage, raised pedestrian crossings and simple speed-calming measures as interventions that can be rolled out rapidly. The emphasis was on solutions that require modest investment but deliver measurable safety gains. Participants noted that many of these measures can be maintained within routine budgets and by local workforce.

Speakers argued that systematic data collection and targeted monitoring are essential to prioritise interventions where the risk is greatest. Local authorities were urged to integrate road safety into routine urban planning, maintenance and lighting programmes rather than treating it as an occasional project. Experts also recommended training for traffic personnel and public education to change behaviour on streets. Integration with transport planning and land use decisions was described as important to prevent new hazards.

The conference discussion concluded with a call for collaboration among government agencies, urban planners and civil society to scale effective practices across cities. Delegates said pilot programmes should be accompanied by clear metrics and independent evaluation so that lessons can be replicated. They emphasised that affordable measures, if implemented at scale, would save lives and reduce economic losses associated with road trauma. Speakers called for central support to disseminate technical guidance and to fund initial rollouts where local resources are limited.