"Road Safety Audit: Challenges in India" Highlights Urgent Need for Safer Highways

Author Ramani Gopalan brings a practical, ground-level view of India’s road safety challenges

India continues to face one of the highest rates of road accidents in the world, with thousands of serious crashes occurring every year due to design flaws, construction deficiencies, maintenance failures, and inadequate safety measures. Addressing these issues requires not only policies but a deeper technical understanding of road safety on the ground.

To contribute to this national need, road safety auditor and highway specialist Ramani Gopalan has released his new book “Road Safety Audit: Challenges in India.” The book delivers a practical, hands-on perspective on how road safety audits (RSA) are conducted in India and the real challenges professionals encounter during the planning, design, construction, and operational stages of highways.

> “Road Safety Audits are not paperwork — they are life-saving evaluations. This book explains the real problems we see every day on Indian roads,” says Ramani Gopalan

⭐ A Timely Resource for Engineers, Authorities, and Contractors

With increasing focus from NHAI, MoRTH, and State PWDs on road safety audits, the book arrives at a crucial moment. It covers:

The complete RSA process for Indian highways

Real examples of issues identified during audits

Black spot analysis and crash patterns

Poor workmanship, construction-stage problems

Safety issues in hill roads, expressways, and rural highways

Typical mistakes in designs & drawings

Solutions and practical recommendations

International best practices adapted for Indian conditions

The book also includes insights from on-site visits, audits, photographs, and interactions with stakeholders

⭐ Bridging the Gap Between Guidelines and Reality

While India has several guidelines and manuals, the gap between theory and practice remains wide. This book bridges that gap by highlighting real situations encountered on national highways, expressways, and state roads.

> “India needs safer and forgiving roads. This book aims to help engineers make better, safer decisions,” adds Gopalan.