(a) whether the Government propose to amend Motor Vehicle Act to check growing number of road accidents and to improve road safety;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) if not, other measures being taken to provide adequate safety to the pedestrians and other road users ?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) ( MAJOR GENERAL (RETD.) B. C. KHANDURI, AVSM)
(a)to(c): A Statement is laid on the table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (c) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.157 REGARDING ROAD SAFETY FOR REPLY ON 28TH NOVEMBER, 2001 ASKED BY SHRI BRAHMA NAND MANDAL AND SHRI G. GANGA REDDY:
a) : Yes, Sir.
b): Some of the measures contemplated are to increase the penalty for violation of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 like over-speeding, driving dangerously, driving under the influence of liquor, using vehicle without registration or without permit or for tampering with the motor vehicles. In addition, temporary suspension of driving licence for driving under influence of liquor or drugs, authorising State Government to control use of audio and audio-visual devices in transport vehicles and tightening of measures to check overloading are some of the other measures.
(c): A number of measures are being taken as given below to improve the road safety :
i) Widening of single lane to 2- lanes
ii) Widening of selected 2- lane sections to 4/6- lane
iii) Improvement of road geometrics
iv) Construction of bypasses
v) Reconstruction of weak and narrow bridges and culverts
vi) Providing paved shoulders
vii) Strengthening weak pavements
viii) Junction improvements
ix) Replacement of level crossings by road over-bridges
x) Retro-reflective road signs
xi) Thermoplastic road markings
xii) Provision of parking lay byes
xiii) Provision of Service Roads
xiv) Wayside amenities on high traffic density corridors, and
xv) Creation of awareness amongst various categories of Road Users. etc.