Folks of all ages step out and navigate roads throughout India each day and but, the various street crashes that usually characteristic in information headlines are a reminder that the present state of street security is much from splendid. In 2023, Delhi recorded a total of 5,834 road crashes resulting in 1,457 fatalities and injuries to 5,470 individuals. This is 18% more than the crashes in 2021. The steep improve in street crashes has been recorded round blackspots close to the larger junctions.
The globally recognized ‘Safe Systems Approach’ aimed toward lowering street site visitors fatalities acknowledges that whereas people make errors, this could not lead to fatalities. We have to construct forgiving infrastructure by way of higher and delicate design. Constructing safer infrastructure for all street customers not solely improves street security but in addition enhances site visitors effectivity.
Taking cognizance of the rising tally of crashes, Delhi’s Visitors Police, Transport Division and Public Works Division, supported by WRI India, reconfigured five of the city’s high-risk road intersections. This weblog appears to be like at key learnings from this course of and emphasizes the significance of scaling up safer intersections throughout the town.
PRINCIPLES OF JUNCTION DESIGN
Compact Intersection Design
A key precept of intersection design is to offer solely as a lot area as is required for protected and environment friendly motion of all street customers. Further area incentivizes non-permitted actions, hindering security and site visitors effectivity. Compact intersections can present car drivers, cyclists and pedestrians a transparent view of all street customers and inform person habits to restrict crash dangers.
Located in the direction of the southern entrance of Shahjahanabad, the Delhi Gate junction is a vital node connecting Outdated Delhi to New Delhi. The junction connects the New Delhi Railway Station with two main roads – Ring Highway and Mahatma Gandhi Highway. The node is surrounded by main arterial and sub-arterial routes and performs a vital position in connecting key exercise facilities throughout the town.
Unfold throughout an enormous space with unmanaged crossings, the junction was a high-risk intersection for each pedestrians and car customers. To make the intersection safer for all customers, the Delhi Gate junction was made compact by extending medians, including refuge areas at corners and making certain wider footpaths.
Safer and Shorter Crossings
Pedestrians typically battle to cross a large street in a single go. Whereas compact intersections assist shorten crossing distances, refuge areas at both ends of the crossings can provide pedestrians a protected area to pause whereas crossing the street. To make sure accessibility for wheelchair customers or caregivers with prams, these refuge areas also needs to have ramps.
Delhi’s Madhuban Chowk experiences heavy footfall as many passengers swap between the Delhi Metro and different modes of transport on the traffic-heavy Outer Ring Highway outdoors Pitampura Metro Station. Reclaiming extra space for refuge areas, has made the junction tighter and lowered the crossing distance making it safer for pedestrians.
Pace Calming Measures
Uncontrolled intersections that lack site visitors police personnel, want pace calming measures to curb rushing and preserve a managed tempo of site visitors. Introducing rumble strips, pace humps and raised crossings, as illustrated in IRC:99-2018, into junction design are some tried and examined methods to discourage excessive rushing round intersections. Putting in optimum, clearly seen site visitors alerts, signages and legible street markings are another key parts that assist regulate site visitors movement at high-volume intersections.
The Mukarba Chowk, a high-speed intersection situated close to the western a part of Delhi, connects a number of vital roads – akin to Nationwide Freeway 44 which connects to Sonipat. It gives entry to areas like Azadpur, a significant vegetable and fruit market within the North and ISBT Kashmere Gate, the inter-state bus terminal and multimodal hub. With a big space and unmanaged speeds, the intersection was extraordinarily tough to navigate and monitor. The under diagram signifies the proposed pace calming measures for Mukarba Chowk.
TESTING THE PROPOSED DESIGN
Trials will be performed with easy cost-effective components that may be rapidly assembled. This helps set up the efficacy of proposed options thereby enabling stakeholder buy-in. Moreover, it offers one the scope to refine proposed options, based mostly on person notion surveys, which then inform implementation.
Gathering Metrics
Gathering metrics throughout junction enchancment is essential for assessing present site visitors circumstances, figuring out drawback areas, and measuring the effectiveness of applied modifications. It ensures data-driven decision-making, enhances security and optimizes site visitors movement by offering insights into real-world impacts.
Following the implementation, a survey of customers revealed that 99.93% of pedestrians felt safer on the Delhi Gate intersection. Moreover, 96.51% of pedestrians discovered the refuge areas useful for crossing, and 96.66% felt safe traversing the junction after the short-term installations.
The implementation at Delhi Gate junction has led to a major discount within the battle space, shrinking it from 4,800 sq. meters to 1,480 sq. meters. Moreover, pedestrian crossing distances have been shortened from 60 meters to 40 meters and from 80 meters to 37 meters.
When correct design and rigorous testing are accompanied by documentation of learnings and correct measurement of influence, it might assist inform the everlasting transformation of intersections. By constantly refining methods, based mostly on information and suggestions, we are able to obtain lasting change, enhancing security, effectivity and total person expertise at intersections.
Intersections are a posh area in any street community, subsequently reworking them requires an knowledgeable method. Prioritizing intersection enchancment is a simple win for the town. Enchancment of those smaller areas at a lesser price can find yourself creating better influence. A city-level program centered on making intersections safer, environment friendly and universally accessible with modern, people-centric and holistic designs can scale back the variety of crashes in the whole metropolis.
Realizing the imaginative and prescient of safer roads in Delhi wants better co-ordination between completely different authorities departments, NGOs, implementing businesses and civil society organizations. By working collectively to plan and implement options to make streets safer by design, our cities can prioritize all street customers and be sure that they get house protected.
