Rajya Sabha
The Government has received a representation from the Road Safety Forum against encouraging super-speed racing formula one car racing and other such events in India. The Road Safety Forum in their representation has stated that Formula 1 racing will increase high-speed driving in India, aggravating road accidents. They have cautioned that high-speed driving will have disastrous consequence on all the drivers in this country and, therefore, the country cannot afford such frivolities. Hence the Government should ban advertisements which encourage products relating to high-speed driving.
The safety of road users is primarily the responsibility of the concerned State Government. However, this department has taken several steps to improve road safety for the road users which are as under:
i) Road safety is the integral part of road design at the planning stage for National Highways/Expressways.
ii) Various steps to enhance road safety such as road furniture, road markings/road signs, introduction of Highway Traffic Management System using Intelligent Transport System, enhancement of discipline among contractors during construction, road safety audit on selected stretches, have been undertaken by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
iii) Refresher training to Heavy Motor Vehicle drivers in the unorganized sector.
iv) Involvement of NGOs for road safety activities by Department of Road Transport and Highways and NHAI.
v) Setting up of Model Driving Training School in the country by Department of Road Transport and Highways.
vi) Publicity campaign on road safety awareness through audio-visual-print media by Department of Road Transport and Highways.
vii) Institution of National Award for voluntary organizations/individual for outstanding work in the field of road safety by Department of Road Transport and Highways.
viii) Tightening of safety standards of vehicles.
ix) Provision of cranes and ambulances to various State Governments/NGOs under National Highway Accident Relief Service Scheme. National Highways Authority of India also provides ambulances at a distance of 50 Km. on each of its completed highways under its Operation & Maintenance contracts.
xi) Widening and improvements of National Highways from 2 lanes to 4 lanes and 4 lanes to 6 lanes etc.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Shri K.H. Muniyappa in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
VBA/PP/BS
(Release ID :33843)