In road accidents caused by motorists and pedestrians falling in potholes, 150000 people have met untimely death annually in Kerala over the past five years.
Observing that such road accidents are scarier, the Supreme Court strongly criticised the laxity shown by governments in maintaining roads properly.

The court’s observation that even in terror so many number of deaths have not happened is true in every sense.
When a new vehicle taken out, the government levies a heavy road tax. But, not even a small percent of this is being used for the maintenance of roads. The government also gets huge revenue in the form of fine for violation of traffic rules. But all this is being used for other purposes.

Even if the road lies in dilapidated condition for months together, authorities concerned bother little. They will make some move only when people start to protest. The condition is more or less the same in most of the states.

Pot holes when left unattended will become wide and deep killer pits. Accident happens when motorists fall in it or when they try to swerve off their vehicle to avoid falling into it.

Every year in India, about one and a half people die in road accident. As part of the steps to reduce road accidents in the country the Supreme Court had appointed a committee led by former Supreme Court judge K S Radhakrishnan.

The committee had submitted several suggestions. Though road accident victims have to be recompensed, there is no any particular law for it. Whatever compensation received are through courts.

Highway authority, State Public Works department and local self-governing body institutions are in charge of maintaining the roads. If these bodies do their duty properly, all roads in the country will be exist in a good state but unfortunately, those who are responsible are not showing much care.

Road are dug up to lay pipes, cables or for drainage works, but after that, they are not repaired. This is a common sight in Kerala. Holes on roads have brought defame to Kerala. The PWD minister himself had recently counted more than 2000 holes on roads along Alappuzha-Changanassery roads, making headlines in newspapers. In the deluge that happened after that, that road completely broke.

There are big holes on National Highways and State High Ways which can endanger people, and it is better not to talk about the condition of roads under local body institutions.

A number of steps and restrictions are needed to cut down the number of accidents that kill 1.5 lakh people every year. The most important among them is quality maintenance of roads. It is true that roads are not expanded proportionate to the increase in the number of automobiles.

In Kerala itself, there are more than 1.5 crore vehicles while the roads are not expanded. Moreover, the condition of available roads are deplorable. Highway expansion projects remains on paper after being caught in red tape.

Above all, absence of road culture is an important reason for rise in road accidents.