(a) whether the Government is collecting money from vehicles plying on National Highways in the form of Toll Tax ;
(b) if so, the facilities/compensation provided to the road users by the National Highways Authority of India in case of road accidents ; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to check accidents on National Highways?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING, ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI K. H. MUNIYAPPA)
(a) Yes, Sir. Under the provisions of National Highways Act 1956, user fee is being
collected from vehicles plying on improved sections of National Highways.
(b) Patrol vehicles, ambulances with first-aid facilities are provided on completed
four/six lane sections of National Highways to help the accidents victims. Besides this
emergency call boxes have been installed on certain sections of National Highways which
can be used by road users in case of any accident/emergency/problem on the road to help
the accident victims.
(c) Some of the important steps taken by the Government, besides incorporating
safety aspects in road design, to check the road accidents are as under:
1. Widening and improvements including provision of proper signage, road markings to guide the road users to ensure road safety on National Highways.
2. Grant -in-aid to voluntary organizations for administering road safety programmes.
3. Publicity campaign on road safety awareness through audio-visual-print media.
4. Encouraging use of simulators in driver`s training.
5. Institution of National Award for voluntary organizations/individual for outstanding work in the field of road safety. 6. Tightening of fitness norms for transport vehicles.