(a) whether it is a fact that nearly 1.5 lakh people die in 5 lakh road accidents every year in the country and the Government has not been successful in containing such accidents;
(b) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto and whether the Government proposes to take more concrete and effective steps to bring down the number of such road accidents and death-toll; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) As per available information, total number of road accidents and the persons killed in road accidents in the country during the calendar years 2018 are as under:-
Year Total Accidents Number of persons killed
2018 467,044 151,417
(b) & (c) The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways is very much concerned about road safety. The Ministry analysis the road accidents issues on the basis of data from the Department of Police of the States/UTs. Analyses of road accident data reported by the police department of States/UTs reveals that road Accidents are multi-causal and are the result of interplay of various factors which can broadly be categorized into human error, Road condition/environment and vehicular condition.
The Ministry has taken various initiatives to promote road safety which include:
The Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act, 2019 passed by Parliament focuses on road safety and includes, inter-alia, revision in penalties for traffic violations, electronic monitoring of the same,
enhanced penalties for juvenile driving, computerization/automation of vehicle fitness and driving, tests, recall of defective vehicles, streamlining the third party insurance and payment of increased compensation for hit and run cases etc. The Amendment has strengthened the Law to improve the road Safety scenario and reduce loss of lives.
The Ministry issues regulations to improve vehicle safety standards, undertakes site specific interventions to address black spots, and also mobilises various activities to promote road safety such as road safety advocacy and awareness programmes. Ministry has notified fitment of Speed Limiting devices on all transport vehicles, issue of Guidelines for protection of Good Samaritans. Besides,
(i) Scheme for setting up of model Driving Training Institutes in States/UTs with central assistance.
(ii) Scheme for setting up one model Inspection & Certification Centre in each State/UT with Central assistance for testing the fitness of vehicles through an automated system.
(iii) Observance of National Road Safety Week every year for spreading awareness and strengthening road safety.
(iv) Road safety has been made an integral part of road design at planning stage.
(v) The threshold for four laning of national highway has been reduced from 15,000 Passenger Car Units (PCUs) to 10,000 PCUs.
(vi) Ministry has delegated powers to Regional Officers of MORTH for technical approval to the detailed estimates for rectification of identified Road Accident black spots for expediting the rectification process to ensure safety of road users.
(vii) Guidelines for pedestrian facilities on National Highways for persons with disabilities have also been issued to all States / UTs.
(viii) Removal of Liquor Shops as per directions of Hon’ble Supreme Court vide circular of F. No. RW/NH-33044/309/2016/S&R dated 06-04-2017 and 01-06-2017.
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