IIT Delhi's Geetam Tiwari explains why India's expressways remain unsafe despite infrastructure

Overview

Geetam Tiwari (IIT Delhi) argues that India’s expressways remain unsafe not mainly due to driver behavior, but due to recurring design non-compliance with international safety standards, based on multiple safety audits.

Main design faults identified

1. Improper median design

• Many expressways have medians designed with vertical surfaces—often 40 cm up to 200–400 mm.
• Tiwari states that international standards require that at high speeds, vehicles should not be able to overturn if they hit the median; vertical median edges can cause rollovers.
• He notes that some corridors, such as the Yamuna Expressway and the Bombay–Pune Expressway, have reportedly changed median designs, but similar issues still persist on newer roads like the Eastern Peripheral Expressway.

2. Faulty crash barrier specifications and installation

Crash barriers are intended to be flexible energy-absorbing systems that prevent vehicles from leaving the roadway and reduce serious injuries.

Tiwari claims barriers on Indian expressways often fail because:

• Barrier height is incorrect
• Installation is incorrect

As a result, the barrier does not function as a safety system and instead becomes a rigid hazard, contributing to severe crashes and overturning.

Underlying principle

Modern road design should account for likely human errors (e.g., a driver nodding off briefly). Safety features must prevent secondary harm through correct, standards-based median and barrier engineering.

Presenter / Contributor

• Geetam Tiwari (IIT Delhi)