Question : ACCIDENTS INVOLVING COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

(a) whether the Government has laid down any guidelines/norms for the plying of heavy commercial vehicles on Expressway and National Highways and in Delhi;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the number of accidents involving commercial vehicles reported during the last three years on Expressways and Highways in Delhi and the number of persons killed therein;

(d) the number of persons and school going children killed by buses and overloaded minibuses during each of the last three years alongwith the compensations paid to their families, State-wise and UT- wise;

(e) whether prominent public schools in Delhi are not allotting bus route according to the safety of the students but are forcing the students to cross roads thereby endangering their lives; and

(f) if so, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS (SHRI MAHADEO SINGH KHANDELA)

(a) and (b): Regulation of vehicular traffic is the responsibility of the State Governments. No separate guidelines have been issued by Road transport Division for plying of heavy commercial vehicles on Expressways and National Highways.

(c): The details of road accidents involving commercial vehicles and person killed during the years 2004-2007 (the latest available data) on Expressways and Highways in Delhi are at Annexure-A.

(d): The details of number of school children killed in road accident by buses in Delhi are at Annexure-‘B’. As regards payment of compensation to their families, Insurance companies are parties to settlement of Motor Accident claims. This Ministry does not maintain information regarding compensations paid to their families.

(e) & (f). As per the existing provisions of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 the State Governments are empowered to issue permits for various transport vehicles including school buses. While issuing such permits, the State Governments are also empowered to attach conditions to the permits keeping in view the safety requirements and other aspects for operation of such vehicles. Enforcement of the provisions of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 including the measures to ensure adherence to permit conditions is the responsibility of the concerned State Government. This Ministry is not aware of non-adherence of allotted routes by public school buses in Delhi.