(a) whether a large number of accidents are taking place in the country due to use of
mobile phones while driving;
(b) if so, the details of such accidents occurred during each of the last three years
and the current year, State-wise;
(c) whether the Government has taken any action in this regard and if so, the details
thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(d) the action being taken by the Government against the vehicles having tinted glasses?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI SARVEY SATHYANARAYANA)
(a) Road accidents and fatalities are mainly caused due to a number of factors such as
driver’s fault, mechanical defects in the vehicles, fault of pedestrians, bad road, bad
weather, increase in vehicular population, increase in population, heterogeneous traffic
etc. The analysis of causes of road accidents in India shows that driver’s fault is the
single most important factor responsible for accidents, fatalities and injuries.Use of
mobile phone while driving motor vehicles carries a potential accident risk and certainly
distracts the attention of the driver thereby increasing the probability of occurrence of
accidents.
(b) This Ministry collects information in respect of road accidents from State Governments
in a 19-item format devised under the Asia Pacific Road Accident Database (APRAD) project
of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for the Asia & the Pacific (UNESCAP).
The data on road accidents due to use of mobile phones in moving vehicles is not separately
captured in the APRAD format.
(c )& (d) The Motor Vehicles Act 1988 and Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989 contain a number
of provisions to curb use of mobile phone while driving motor vehicles and use of tinted
glasses. All State Governments/UTs, primarily responsible for enforcing provisions of the Motor
Vehicles Act/Central Motor Vehicles Rules have been advised from time to time to gear up their
enforcement machinery to implement the provisions of law in true spirit to eliminate the chances
of road accidents. Measures taken by Central Government include generating awareness through
audio-visual–print media.
In addition, the Ministry has advised the Chief Ministers & Administrators of all States &
UTs suggesting plan of action against the use of tinted glasses or solar films in motor vehicles.
The Ministry has also requested Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority and General
Insurance Council for including use of tinted glasses and solar films as violation of conditions
of warranty in the insurance policies.