The Hindu Editorial (Slow on safety) – Feb 18, 2021

India’s Road Safety Month, launched on January 18 as an extended form of the annual Road Safety Week for greater impact, has concluded with a bus accident in Madhya Pradesh that has claimed 51 lives. For further reading, visit “The Hindu”. Below is today’s word list-1 for The Hindu Editorial (Slow on safety) – Feb 18, 2021.

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The Hindu Editorial (Slow on safety) – Feb 18, 2021:

pandemic (noun) – disease, sickness, illness; (the worldwide spread of a new disease; The illness spreads around the world and typically affects a large number of people across a wide area).
wane (verb) – decrease, decline, diminish/dwindle gradually.
Road Safety Month (phrase) – “Road Safety Week” is observed throughout India every year in order to highlight and emphasize the need for safe roads. lt is also an opportunity for all stakeholders to contribute to the cause by taking up activities to promote the concept. This year instead of “Road, Safety Week”, a month-long campaign “National Road Safety Month” will be observed from 18th January 2021 to 17th February 2021. The theme of this year is, “Sadak Suraksha- Jeevan Raksha”.
impact (noun) – effect, impression; results.
claim (verb) – cause in the loss of, result in the loss of; take.
reportedly (adverb) – supposedly, seemingly, apparently, ostensibly, allegedly.
trap (verb) – get stuck, get caught; confine, prevent (from escaping).
plunge (verb) – fall/drop, plummet, tumble, nosedive suddenly & uncontrollably.
swollen (adjective) – extended, expanded, enlarged.
canal (noun) – an artificial waterway, especially for irrigation.
ghastly (adjective) – terrible, frightful, grim, horrible.
mishap (noun) – accident, trouble, problem, difficulty.
lockdown (noun) – an emergency protocol implemented by the authorities that prevents people from leaving from a place; An extended state of confinement/encirclement/isolation of a person by the authority.
lend (verb) – give, provide, impart.
grist (noun) – it is a valuable thing, particularly to help an argument/contention.
get one’s act together (phrase) – regain control of oneself, regain one’s self-control, get a grip on oneself, galvanize, cheer up.
any time soon (phrase) – in the very near future (but an exact time or date isn’t known).
Traffic Crash Injuries and Disabilities Report (noun) – World Bank commissioned a survey-based assessment study in association with the Save LIFE Foundation (SLF) to determine differential (different) impacts more objectively in India. This study aims to capture the socioeconomic realities and nuances of road crashes at the sub-national level in India. It seeks to document inter-linkages between poverty, inequalities, road users, and road crash outcomes by analyzing data.
household (noun) – family, house.
bear (verb) – endure, tolerate, put up with, stand, accept, go through, undergo.
cringeworthy (adjective) – uncomfortable, unpleasant, delicate, problematic.
lead to (verb) – result in, cause, bring on, call forth, give rise to.
measure (noun) – action, step, procedure.
determined (adjective) – resolute, full of determination, purposeful, resolved, single-minded, firm.
campaign (noun) – an organized effort that seeks to achieve an objective.
carnage (noun) – the killing of large numbers of people; massacre, mass killing, mass destruction.
evidently (adverb) – obviously, palpably, seemingly, apparently.
incremental (adjective) – gradual, phased, step-by-step.
in the wake of (phrase) – as a result of, in the aftermath of, as a consequence of.
magisterial (adjective) – authoritative.
Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act of 2019 (noun) – It is based on the recommendations of the Group of Transport Ministers of States. Given that the Act wanted to deter individuals from violating traffic rules, it has introduced heavy fines for drunken driving, driving without licence, dangerous driving, over-speeding, etc. The new Act has also extended the period for renewal of driving licences from one month to one year after the date of expiry. The Act also promises to protect those people who render emergency medical or non-medical assistance to a victim of an accident, from any civil or criminal liability. The minimum compensation for death or grievous injury due to hit and run has been moved up substantially. Implemented on Sunday, 1 September 2019, it contains 63 provisions that deal with penalties, licenses, registration, and the National Transport Policy.
provision (noun) – clause, (legal) term, requirement, condition.
bring about (phrasal verb) – cause, create, produce.
lukewarm (adjective) – unenthusiastic, unresponsive, half-hearted, indifferent, dispassionate.
zero tolerance (noun) – a complete refusal to accept certain behavior.
enforcement (noun) – imposition, implementation, execution.
through the lens (phrase) – through someone’s eyes (observance, opinion, viewpoint).
populism (noun) – policies that supposedly represent the opinions of ordinary people (Courtesy: VOA Learning English).
reflect (verb) – indicate, show, reveal, exhibit.
spate (noun) – series, flurry; a large number of something (taking place at the same period).
operationalise (verb) – put into use.
National Road Safety Board (noun) – It will be set up with an aim to promote road and vehicle safety. The Board will have experts and professionals who will guide and advise the government on issues of road and vehicle safety. A draft notification has been issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for establishing the National Road Safety Board. The proposed Board will be tasked to perform several responsibilities on road safety. The proposed Safety Board will consist of a Chairman and a maximum of 7 other members. It is being formed in accordance with the new Motor Vehicle Act.
lay down (phrasal verb) – formulate, insist on, establish, determine.
engineering standards (noun) – technical standards.
hold someone to account (phrase) – to require a person to explain or to accept responsibility for his or her actions; to blame or punish someone for what has occurred.
indulgent (adjective) – easy-going, mild, broad-minded, forgiving.
spear (noun) – a long shaft with a sharp edge (to have a flag on a car bonnet (the hinged cover over the engine)).
contraption (noun) – mechanism, apparatus, machine/device.
deadly (adjective) – fatal, lethal.
political will (noun) – political intention/desire (to complete a scheme/project even if it is not admired/welcomed in the beginning).
policing (noun) – the enforcement of regulations; supervision, overseeing, monitoring, inspection.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (noun) – The sustainable development goals (SDGs) are a new, universal set of goals, targets, and indicators that UN member states will be expected to use to frame their agendas and political policies over the next 15 years.
go beyond (phrasal verb) – to go past something, excel, outdo, exceed, surpass.
pious (adjective) – vain, desperate, despairing, hopeless.