(a) the steps taken by the Government in the wake of increase in accidents on National Highways;
(b) whether financial assistance is being provided to the people affected by accidents on National Highways; and
(c) if so, the details thereof along with the financial assistance provided to people injured/died in accidents on National Highways for each of the last three years State-wise?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)
(a) The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has taken a number of steps to prevent road accidents as per details mentioned under:
(i) The Government has approved a National Road Safety Policy. This Policy outlines various policy measures such as promoting awareness, establishing road safety information data base, encouraging safer road infrastructure including application of intelligent transport, enforcement of safety laws etc.
(ii) The Government has constituted the National Road Safety Council as the apex body to take policy decisions in matters of road safety.
(iii) The Ministry has requested all States/UTs for setting up of State Road Safety Council and District Road Safety Committees, and to hold their meetings regularly.
(iv) The Ministry has formulated a multi-pronged strategy to address the issue of road safety based on 4 ‘E’s viz. Education, Engineering (both of roads and vehicles), Enforcement and Emergency Care.
(v) Road safety has been made an integral part of road design at planning stage.
(vi) Road Safety Audit of selected stretches of National Highways.
(vii) Setting up of model driving training institutes in States and refresher training to drivers of Heavy Motor Vehicle in the unorganized sector.
(viii) Advocacy/Publicity campaign on road safety through the electronic and print media.
(ix) Tightening of safety standards for vehicles like Seat Belts, Power-steering, anti-lock braking system etc.
(x) Providing cranes and ambulances to various State Governments under the National Highway Accident Relief Service Scheme for development on National Highways. National Highways Authority of India also provides ambulances at a distance of 50 Km. on each of its completed stretches of National Highways under its Operation & Maintenance contracts.
(xi) Identification and rectification of black spots (accident prone spots)
(xii) Launch of pilot projects for providing cashless treatment of road accident victims on Gurgaon – Jaipur, Vadodara – Mumbai stretch of National Highways No. 8 and Ranchi – Rargaon - Mahulia stretch of National Highway No. 33.
(b) & (c) Section 165 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, empowers State Government to constitute, by notification in the Official Gazette, one or more Motor Accidents Claims Tribunals for such area as may be specified in the notification for the purpose of adjudicating upon claims for compensation in respect of accidents involving the death of, or bodily injury to, persons arising out of the use of motor vehicles, or damages to any property of a third party so arising, or both.
Also, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has launched three pilot projects for cashless treatment of road accident victims on following stretches of National Highways:-
(i) Gurgaon - Jaipur stretch of National Highway (NH) No.8. (launched in 2013 -14)
(ii) Vadodara – Mumbai stretch of NH No. 8 (launched in 2014 -15)
(iii) Ranchi – Rargaon – Mahulia stretch of NH No. 33. (launched in 2014 -15)
The objective of the project is to save lives of accident victims by providing prompt and appropriate medical care during ''Golden Hour", and thereby reduce fatalities and disabilities due to road accidents. The project envisages transport of accident victims from the accident scene to hospital and, where required, from one hospital to another for treatment at a public or private hospital for the first 48 hours or Rs. 30,000/-, whichever is earlier.
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