MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS (SHRI MAHADEO SINGH KHANDELA)
(a): As per the World Road Statistics (WRS) 2009, brought out by the International Road
Federation, (IRF) Geneva, United States of America had reported the highest number of injury
accidents (17,48,435) in the world followed by Japan (8,32,454) and India (4,79,219) respectively
for the year 2007. India had reported the highest number of fatalities in Road Accidents (114444)
followed by China (81649) during 2007.
(b): The number of road accidents and fatalities on National Highways and Expressways,
State-wise and UT-wise for the years 2006-2008 (the latest available data) is at Annexure.
Specific NH-wise data of road accidents is not compiled in the Ministry.
(c): The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 provides for compensation to the road accident victims/
dependents as per the details given below:-
(i) Compensation in hit-and-run cases:-
Death Rs.25,000/-
Grievous Hurt Rs.12,500/-
(ii) Compensation on “No fault principleâ€.
Compensation to road accident victims on `no fault principle` (i.e where the victims or their
heirs/successors do not have to prove the negligence of the driver of the motor vehicle causing
the accident to claim such compensation) is given as per the Structured Compensation Formula
prescribed under the Act. The amount of compensation depends upon the age and annual income
of the victim. The maximum amount of compensation in respect of permanent disability and death
respectively comes to Rs. 7,20,000/- and Rs. 4,80,000/- (reduced by 1/3rd in consideration of
the expenses which the victim would have incurred towards maintaining himself had he been alive).
To the amount thus determined, certain general damages like funeral expenses, loss of consortium
(i.e spouse), medical expenses, pain and sufferings(in case of injury) etc. are added.
(iii) Compensation on “ Fault principleâ€.
The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 also allows application for compensation to Motor Accident Claim
Tribunal (MACT) or Civil Court, as the case may be, on the principle of fault/negligence
of the driver of the vehicle causing the accident. In such cases, MACT or the Courts award
compensation on the merit of the case.
(d) & (e): Government has set up an Expert Committee to review the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988
in a comprehensive manner. Based on the recommendations of the Expert Committee, the Government
may consider the increase in compensation amount in case of road accidents.
(f): This Ministry has a scheme titled “Two days refresher training to heavy motor vehicle
drivers in unorganized sector†to inculcate safe driving habits and to acquaint the heavy
vehicle drivers with the rules on road. The Ministry has decided to conduct the training in
States/UTs through eminent organizations and Driver Training Schools such as Society of Indian
Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM); All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC); Automobile
Association of Upper India; Krishna District Lorry Association, Training Institute on Driving &
Research Centre, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh; Training Institute on Driving Research, (IDTR),
Sarai Kale Khan, New Delhi; Training Institute on Driving Research Bellary, Karnataka and Driver
Training Institute of Nagaland State Transport, Dimapur, Nagaland. During the financial year
2009-10, AIMTC had conducted the refresher training programme for 5000 HMV Drivers successfully
through its member association in the States/UTs viz. Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu,
Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab
and Chandigarh.
The benefits of the training given to the drivers can only be assessed in real terms
once the properly trained drivers gradually replace the existing drivers of vehicles plying
in the country. This scheme is a long term measure essential to ensure road safety.
