TRAFFIC CRASH INJURIES AND DISABILITIES: THE BURDEN ON INDIAN SOCIETY BIHAR This state fact sheet highlights the impact of road crashes on people belonging to different social categories in the state. The fact sheet uses data from the 2021 study titled “Traffic Crash Injuries and Disabilities: The Burden on Indian Society”. The fact sheet depicts data on the average costs of road crashes, insurance compensation, disability status, and so on. Bihar is an eastern state in India, which is the second most populated state in the country. With 9 divisions and 38 districts, the state has a 2020 projected population of 12.47 crores5, with a nominal Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in 2018-19 of INR 5,57,490 crore3. The nominal per capita GSDP of Bihar was INR 47,541 in 2018- 19. The urbanisation rate in Bihar is low, and most of the state’s population resides 9 Divisions in rural areas. As of 2011, only 11.3% of Bihar’s population resides in urban areas. 38 Districts Bihar recorded 62,46,000 registered 1 vehicles as of March, 2017. The state also witnessed 10,007 road crashes and 72052 road crash deaths in 2019 alone, making it the state with the 9th highest road crash deaths in 2019. Based on several factors like proportion of urban population, literacy rate, poverty rate and per capita net state GDP, Bihar has Population been categorised as a “Low Capacity State” in this study. Bihar also has a low female 12.47 Crores literacy rate. As of 2011, the female literacy rate in the state was just 51.5%, while male literacy rate was 71.2%3. In terms of State performance on meeting the SDG goals, Bihar scores 50 on the index.This indicates that Bihar has met its half way mark in meeting the SDG targets for 20304. The state has also scored only 33 on the SDG of no poverty, which is the second lowest score in the country. 2017 62,46,000 Registered vehicles Traffic Crash Injuries and Disabilities: The Burden on Indian Society 2019 10,007 2019 7205 9th highest road road road crash crash crashes deaths deaths in 2019 GDP 2011 2011 2018-19 51.5% 71.2% INR female male 5,57,490 literacy literacy crore rate rate 1. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, “Road http://finance.bih.nic.in/Reports/Economic-Survey- Transport Yearbook”, Ministry of Road Transport and 2020-EN.pdf Highways website, September 23, 2019, Accessed on October 9, 2020, https://morth.nic.in/sites/default/ 4. NITI Aayog, “SDG India Index & Dashboard, 2019-20”, files/Road%20Transport%20Year%20Book%202016- NITI Aayog Website, December 20, 2019, Accessed on 17.pdf October 9, 2020, https://niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/ SDG-India-Index-2.0_27-Dec.pdf 2. National Crime Records Bureau, “Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India”, National Crime Records Bureau 5. Unique Identification Authority of India, “State/ UT Website, August 28, 2020, Accessed on October 9, 2020, wise AADHAR Saturation Data”, UIDAI website, May 31, https://ncrb.gov.in/sites/default/files/ADSI_2019_ 2020, Accessed on October 9, 2020,https://uidai.gov. FULL%20REPORT_updated.pdf in/images/state-wise-aadhaar-saturation.pdf 3. Finance Department of Government of Bihar, “Bihar Economic Survey 2019-20”, Finance Department Website, February, 2020, Accessed on October 9, 2020, PROFILE OF THE SAMPLE IN BIHAR: wage earners. 39.3% of the victims live(d) in urban areas. A total of 527 respondents (victims and household 185 of the households had a family member that died as members) participated in the survey for the PSIA study. a result of the road crash (35.1%). About 19.5% of these Among them, 115 respondents (21.8%) belonged to High victims died at the crash scene. In addition, 118 victims Income Households (HIH), and 412 respondents (78.2%) suffered from some disability (22.4%). Out of these, 76 belonged to Low Income Households (LIH). The average victims (64.4%) developed a long term disability. monthly household income for HIH was INR 2.99 lakhs, and for LIH, the income was INR 15,637. In addition, 101 The average Out of Pocket Expenses borne by victims/ truck drivers with an average income of INR 20,743 were household members across households was INR 58,023. included in the survey. 86.1% of the respondents were male About 67% of the respondents received some form of road crash victims, and 13.9% were female road crash compensation. victims. As many as 138 (26.2%) of the victims were chief TABLE 1: RESPONDENT PROFILE Particulars Bihar Participants (#, %) in HIH 115 (21.8) Average monthly household income for HIH (INR) 2,99,130 Participants (#, %) in LIH 412 (78.2) Average monthly household income for LIH (INR) 15,637 Participants (#) as truck drivers 101 Average monthly income from driving profession for truck drivers (INR) 20,743 % of female victims 13.9 #, % crash deaths (185) 35.1 #,% with major crash injury (342) 64.9 #,% recovered with some disability (118) 34.5* #,% have long term mobility disability (76) 64.4 % of victims who were chief wage earner 138 (26.2) *taken as a percentage figure of total major injuries. Traffic Crash Injuries and Disabilities: The Burden on Indian Society PROFILE OF VICTIMS BASED ON THE Whereas, for males, the proportion of victims that died was higher for LIH in both urban and rural areas. 98.3% OUTCOME OF THE CRASH: of the female victims that died in rural areas belonged to LIH. • Based on the outcome of the crash, most of the victims that died belonged to low income households. For • Proportion of female victims that survived in urban urban areas, 77.8% of the victims that died belonged to areas was higher for HIH than for LIH. However, for LIH and in rural areas, as high as 98.2% of the victims rural areas, the proportion of female victims that that died belonged to LIH. survived was higher for LIH than HIH. The proportion of male victims that survived was higher for LIH in both • Further, it can be observed that for both LIH and HIH, an urban and rural areas. equal proportion of female victims died in urban areas. CHART 1: HABITATION- WISE TRENDS OF ROAD CRASH OUTCOMES Chart 1a: % of victims that survived in urban areas Chart 1b: % of victims that survived in rural areas 60 58.1% 100 Overall 51.9% 54.8% 88.9% 91.3% Male 50 48.1% 77.8% 45.2% 80 Female 41.9% 40 60 30 40 20 22.2% 10 20 11.1% 8.7% 0 0 LIH HIH LIH HIH Chart 1c: % of victims that died in urban areas Chart 1d: % of victims that died in rural areas 98.2% 98.2% 98.3% 100 91.7% 100 77.8% 80 80 60 60 50% 50% 40 40 22.2% 20 20 8.3% 1.8% 1.8% 1.7% 0 0 LIH HIH LIH HIH FINANCIAL IMPACT OF ROAD of HIH admitted to the same. Further, a larger number of cases of property sale, money borrowing, and relocation CRASHES IN BIHAR: were observed in LIH than in HIH. Interestingly, a larger proportion of HIH reported OOPE than LIH. This can be due 79.4% of LIH admitted that there was a decline in total to the fact that HIH can afford better quality treatment than income of the household due to the road crash, while 66.1% LIH. CHART 2: FINANCIAL IMPACT ON THE VICTIM HOUSEHOLD 79.4% LIH 80 HIH 72.2% 70 66.1% 62.6% 60 50 43% 40 30 24.8% 24.8% 22.8% 20 17.4% 14.8% 10.4% 11.3% 10 0 Decline in Out of pocket Had to sell/ Had to Had to relocate Any household total income expenses mortgage family borrow money for treatement member had of household increased assets (from anyone) for more than to relocate 30 days permanently Out of pocket expenditure (OOPE) is the CHART 3: % OF VICTIMS/FAMILIES THAT FACED OOPE payment made directly by individuals at the LIH (% yes) point of service where the entire cost of the 100 HIH (% yes) 82.9% health good or service is not covered under any financial protection scheme. The OOPE 80 72.2% 71.4% was about 2.5 times higher for LIH than for HIH. Total OOPE was INR 66,659 for LIH, 60 and 27,083 for HIH. 82.9% of the LIH where 40 36% the victim survived the crash admitted to paying OOPE, while 72.2% of the of the HIH where victims survived admitted to paying 20 OOPE. 0 Survived Died Traffic Crash Injuries and Disabilities: The Burden on Indian Society LOSSES INCURRED DUE TO INR 1,47,156 respectively. As HIH have significantly higher income than LIH, the loss of income was higher for HIH than ROAD CRASHES: for LIH. Loss of property and legal expenses accounted for about 6.3% and 3.8% of LIH losses respectively, and 19.4% The total losses faced by 412 low income households and 4.7% of HIH losses respectively. The breakup of the and 115 high income households was INR 1,09,227 and losses is as follows: CHART 4: LOSSES INCURRED DUE TO ROAD CRASH (INR) LIH 80000 HIH 68957 70000 66659 60000 50000 40000 28496 27083 30000 22.8% 19825 20000 10.4% 12224 10604 10000 6915 6896 4192 3500 1033 0 Loss of Loss of property/ Out of pocket Legal/ Amount paid to Others income during vehicle etc. expenses on administrative/ other vehicle/ (hospital visits, period of due to road treatment of compensation person involved loss of belongings, treatment crash victim expenses in crash food expenses, travel, etc.) MECHANISM TO COPE WITH FINANCIAL LOSSES: Interestingly, a larger proportion of HIH (87.8%) spent from family savings to cope with the losses than LIH (67%). This About 43% of LIH had to arrange for a loan as opposed can be attributed to the fact that savings will be larger for to 11.3% of HIH. Further, a larger proportion of LIH had to HIH than for LIH. resort to selling assets, and taking on extra work than HIH. CHART 5: MECHANISM TO COPE WITH THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF ROAD CRASHES (%YES) LIH HIH 100 87.8% 80 67% 60 43.2% 40 22.8% 17.2% 17.4% 20 11.9% 13.1% 11.3% 10.4% 10.2% 10.4% 8.7% 7% 8.7% 7% 7.3% 7.8% 0 Arranged Sold/ Took on extra Compensation Received Received Dependent Reveived Spent from a loan mortgage work by from the compensation compensation was provided compensation family assets household insurance under for employer job by from other savings members company schemes employer/ party involved govt. (monthly in a road income) crash COMPENSATION AVAILED AND members availed medical insurance compensation. Among those that availed compensation , 69.4% of RECEIVED UNDER MOTOR VEHICLE, the LIH victims, and 45.8% of HIH victims received MEDICAL, AND LIFE INSURANCE the eligible compensation. In terms of time taken, LIH victims received their compensation in about SCHEMES: 2.8 months while HIH victims received it in about 2.6 months. • As low as 10.7% of LIH and 21.7% HIH victims/ family members availed motor vehicle insurance • A mere 4.1% of LIH victims and 4.3% HIH victims/family compensation. Among those that availed members availed life insurance compensation. Among compensation, just 59.1% of the LIH victims, and 48% those that availed compensation , 76.5% of the LIH of HIH victims received the eligible compensation. victims, and 100% of HIH victims received the eligible In terms of time taken, LIH victims received their compensation. In terms of time taken, LIH victims compensation in about 12.6 months while HIH victims received their compensation in about 4.5 months while received it in about 17.6 months. HIH victims received it in about 4.4 months. • Only 8.7% of LIH victims and 20.9% HIH victims/family Traffic Crash Injuries and Disabilities: The Burden on Indian Society CHART 6: VICTIMS THAT AVAILED AND RECEIVED COMPENSATION FROM INSURANCE (% YES) 100% 100 80 76.5% 69.4% 59.1% 60 48% 45.8% 40 21.7% 20.9% 20 10.7% 8.7% 4.1% 4.3% 0 Availed (LIH) Received eligible Availed (HIH) Received eligible compensation (LIH) compensation (HIH) Motor vehicle insurance compensation Medical insurance compensation Life insurance compensation CHART 7: AVERAGE TIME TAKEN (MONTHS) TO RECEIVE COMPENSATION Motor vehicle 12.6 insurance compensation 17.6 Medical 2.8 insurance compensation 2.6 Average time taken (month) LIH Life insurance 4.5 compensation Average time 4.4 taken (month) HIH 0 5 10 15 20 DIFFICULTY IN AVAILING COMPENSATION: When asked about the difficulty in availing compensation, a larger proportion of LIH (15.5%) affirmatively responded than HIH (8.7%). CHART 8: RESPONSES WHETHER VICTIM/ HOUSEHOLD MEMBER FACED ANY DIFFICULTY WHILE AVAILING COMPENSATION (%) 80 LIH 71.6% 70 HIH 63.5% 60 50 40 30 15.5% 19.1% 20 8.7% 10 8.7% 6.3% 6.6% 0 Yes No NA DK/CS A larger percentage of LIH (23.8%) also admitted to filing a case in the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal (MACT), than HIH (17.4%). CHART 9: RESPONSES WHETHER VICTIM/ FAMILY FILED A CASE IN MACT (%) 59.7% 60% 60 50 40 30 23.8% 22.6% 20 16.5% 17.4% Yes No 10 DK/CS 0 LIH HIH Traffic Crash Injuries and Disabilities: The Burden on Indian Society TRUCK DRIVER’S AWARENESS third party liability insurance under the Motor Vehicles (Amendement) Act, 2019. There was also relatively LEVELS ON MOTOR THIRD PARTY less awareness about the time limit for filing cases LIABILITY INSURANCE: for compensation, which is 6 months from the crash occurrence, and about the insurance company’s liability Among the 101 truck drivers surveyed in Bihar, a relatively to designate an officer to assist claimants in the claim high proportion of truck drivers (20.8%) were unaware that settlement process. the attendant or khalasi is also covered under the motor CHART 10: AWARENESS LEVEL OF TRUCK DRIVERS ON MOTOR THIRD PARTY LIABILITY INSURANCE Not Aware Fully Aware 80 Somewhat Aware 79.2% 70 71.3% 72.3% 71.3% 69.3% 69.3% 66.3% 63.4% 64.4% 60 50 40 28.7% 27.7% 26.7% 30 25.7% 24.8% 22.8% 20.8% 18.8% 16.8% 20 10.9% 11.9% 15.8% 10 5% 5% 5% 3% 2% 2% 0 The purchase If the vehicle Motor third Motor third If someone The Along with The time In case of motor third is uninsured, party liability party liability else is at compensation driver, limitation of road party liability you/ owner insurance insurance fault for an you are truck, for filing of crash, insurance is may be provides does not crash & eligible to attendant cases for insurance compulsary personally compensation provide you incur receive may (Khalasi) compensation company is and you may liable to pay to other compensation injuries, be reduced is also for injuries liable to be fined by the for injuries people for for injuries you may be if you covered before the designate police if caused to their injuries you incur able to claim breach a for benefits claims an officer vehicle is others if you if the if the compensation traffic law under third tribunal to help you uninsured are at fault crash is crash from the party is 6 months with the for crash your fault is your fault insurer the insurance from the process of vehicle is under MVAA, date of the settlement insured with 2019 crash of your claim TYPE OF CAREGIVER FOR VICTIM: LIH and 72.2% for HIH). Interestingly, there was a greater proportion of victims from LIH (8.9%) that took care of In the case of both LIH and HIH, the majority of the victims themselves post the crash than HIH victims (2.5%). had a female family member as their caregiver (64.5% for CHART 11: TYPE OF FAMILY MEMBER THAT TOOK CARE OF THE ROAD CRASH VICTIM Self Male 80 Female 72.2% 70 64.5% 60 50 40 6.8% 4.8% DK/CS 16.9% DK/CS 37% 25.3% 30 26.6% No No Yes Yes 20 10 8.9% 56.2% 78.3% 2.5% 0 LIH HIH HEALTH IMPACT ON HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS WITH VICTIMS: 37% of the victims from LIH admitted that their family/ household members developed health problems post crash, as opposed to HIH victims, where 16.9% of the victim household members developed health problems post crash. CHART 12: RESPONSES ON WHETHER HEALTH PROBLEMS DEVELOPED IN HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS Chart 12a: 6.8% 4.8% Chart 12b: 16.9% Household Household members of the 37% members of the victim developed Yes victim developed health problems: health problems: LIH No HIH DK/CS 56.2% 78.3% Traffic Crash Injuries and Disabilities: The Burden on Indian Society 3.4% 10.8% DK/CS 21.7% DK/CS 41.8% No No Yes Yes 54.8% 67.5% FOOD CONSUMPTION STATUS OF HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS OF THE VICTIM: As high as 41.8% of the LIH victim’s household members admitted that their food consumption has decreased post crash, while 21.7% of the HIH victim’s household members admitted that their food consumption has decreased post crash. CHART 13: RESPONSES ON WHETHER FOOD CONSUMPTION FOR HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS DECREASED Chart 13a: 3.4% 10.8% Chart 13b: 21.7% Food 41.8% Food consumption of consumption of victim’s household Yes victim’s household members has members has decreased: LIH No decreased: HIH DK/CS 54.8% 67.5% PROPORTION OF VICTIMS THAT FACED ANY DISABILITY: In Bihar, a higher proportion of LIH victims faced disabilities than HIH victims. 99 (42.3%) of the respondents from LIH, and 19 (17.6%) of the respondents from HIH reported a disability. Among them, 45.5% of LIH and 21.1% of HIH reported a serious disability. TABLE 2: RESPONSES ON WHETHER VICTIMS FACED A DISABILITY LIH HIH Particulars N %Yes N %Yes Bihar 234 42.30% 108 17.60% DK/CS 33.7% DK/CS 52.7% No No Yes Yes 45.2% 61.5% PROPORTION OF HOUSEHOLDS, In Bihar, 52.7% of LIH and 33.7% of HIH reported that the victim or a household member suffered from depression WHERE FAMILY MEMBERS FACED post the crash. DEPRESSION CHART 14: RESPONSES ON WHETHER THE VICTIM/ HOUSEHOLD MEMBER SUFFERED FROM DEPRESSION Chart 14a: 2.1% 4.8% Chart 14b: Responses on 33.7% Responses on whether vctim/ 52.7% whether vctim/ household Yes household member suffered member suffered from depression: No from depression: LIH DK/CS HIH 45.2% 61.5% DIFFICULTY IN SLEEPING FOR THE HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS POST CRASH: In Bihar, as high as 30.1% of the household members from LIH faced difficulty in sleeping, while 18.1% of the household members from HIH faced the same. CHART 15: RESPONSES ON WHETHER HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS HAVE DIFFICULTY IN SLEEPING Chart 15a: 26.7% 15.7% 18.1% Chart No, sleep15b: well Responses on 30.1% Responses on whether whether household Sometimes household Yes members Yes have members have difficulty in difficulty in Sometimes sleeping (HIH) sleeping (LIH) No, sleep well 43.2% 66.2% Traffic Crash Injuries and Disabilities: The Burden on Indian Society EMPLOYMENT STATUS OF VICTIMS: RESPONSES ON WHETHER AN FIR WAS FILED FOR THE ROAD CRASH THAT THE In Bihar, LIH on an average, took 88 more days than HIH to return to their previous occupation, with LIH taking an VICTIM WAS INVOLVED IN: average of 134 days to return to their occupation and HIH taking 46 days for the same. Further, on an average In Bihar, 51.5% of the LIH and 58.3% of the HIH claim that it took LIH 40 days, and HIH 29 days to find a new no FIR was filed for the road crash case that the victim was occupation. involved in. CHART 16: WAS AN FIR FILED FOR THE ROAD CRASH THAT THE VICTIM WAS INVOLVED IN? 58.3% 60 51.5% 50 43% 40 29.6% 30 20 12.2% Yes 10 5.6% No DK/CS 0 LIH HIH Traffic Crash Injuries and Disabilities: The Burden on Indian Society