Question : ROAD SAFETY

(a) whether there is any Road Safety Council in operation;

(b) if so, the criteria for getting membership in this council alongwith the strength of present membership;

(c) whether the Government have ignored road safety in its various plans;

(d) if so, the reasons therefor ;

(e) whether the Government have been unresponsive to pleas from NGOs to intervene and sort out major points of road accidents and fatalities;

(f) if so, whether the Government propose to review its performance in this area; and (g) if so, the steps proposed to be taken to improve road safety ?

THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS(MAJOR GENERAL (RETD.) B.C. KHANDURI)

(a) : Yes sir.

(b) : The National Road Safety Council was last reconstituted on 17.05.2000 having 74 official members and 14 non official Co-opted institutional/ individual members. The term of non-official members is two years. The Co-opted members are selected based on their interest and awareness in road safety matters.

( c ) : No sir.

(d) : Does not arise.

(e) to(g) : The Government have been working with a number of NGOs to create awareness among road users on road safety. Several measures have been taken to improve road safety. Some of these are :


i) Refresher training to drivers of heavy motor vehicles
ii) Publicity campaigns on road safety awareness through audio visual and print media.
iii) Provision of Grants-in-aid to voluntary organizations for administering road safety programmes.
iv) Encouraging the use of simulators in driver`s training
v) National Award instituted for voluntary organizations/individuals for outstanding work in the field of road safety.
vi) All India Essay Competition on road safety for school children for creating awareness among the school children.
vii) Fitness norms for transport vehicles have been tightened.
viii) Widening /improvement of roads etc.