(a) whether a report by International Road Federation (IRF) has recently stated that India accounts for ten percent of global road accident deaths which is highest in the world;
(b) if so, the reaction of the Union Government on the said report of IRF;
(c) whether the Union Government has since taken concrete steps to check road fatalities in the country; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)
(a) & (b) Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has no specific information about the statement issued by International Road Federation about the road accident deaths in India.
(c) & ( d) The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has taken a number of steps to prevent such 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 constituted Group of Ministers of State Transport Minister to examine the best practices of Transport and suggest issues to improve road safety.
v. Based on the recommendation of Group of Minister, the Ministry introduced Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2017 covering entire gamut of road safety.
vi. 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.
vii. Road safety has been made an integral part of road design at planning stage.
viii. Road Safety Audit of selected stretches of National Highways has been taken up.
ix. High priority has been accorded to identification and rectification of black spots (accident prone spots) on national highways.
x. The threshold for four laning of national highway has been reduced from 15,000 Passenger Car Units (PCUs) to 10,000 PCUs. About 52,000 Km of stretches of State Highways has been identified for conversion to national highways.
xi. Setting up of model driving training institutes in States and refresher training to drivers of Heavy Motor Vehicle in the unorganized sector.
xii. Advocacy/Publicity campaign on road safety through the electronic and print media.
xiii. Tightening of safety standards for vehicles like Seat Belts, anti-lock braking system etc.
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