(a) whether the number of road accidents is on the rise on the national highways;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the causes of such accidents are attributed to trucks; and
(d) if so, the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to prevent the road accidents?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING, ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS(SHRI K.H. MUNIYAPPA)
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) As reported by the States/Union Territories, the number of road accidents on National Highways during 2001 and 2002 are 115824 and 131738 respectively.
The increase in population, growth in number of motor vehicles and expansion of roads space are some of the contributing factors for rise in road accidents.
(c) As per information available, trucks were involved in 67515 accidents out of the total number of 405637 accidents during the year 2001and 69571 accidents out of the total number of 407497 accidents during the year 2002, on all roads. The information regarding number of accidents involving trucks, separately on National Highways is not compiled by this Ministry.
(d) Enforcement of provisions of Motor Vehicles Act and rules made thereunder to ensure safety of road users is the responsibility of the State Government. Some of the important steps taken by the Central Government to check the road accidents on National Highways besides highway design are as under:
(1) Grants-in-aid to voluntary organizations for administering road safety programmes.
(2) Publicity campaign on road safety awareness through audio-visual-print media.
(3) Encouraging use of simulators in driver’s training.
(4) Institution of National Award for voluntary organizations/individual for outstanding work in the field of road safety.
(5) Organizing All India Essay Competition on road safety for school children with a view to creating awareness.
(6) Tightening of fitness norms for transport vehicles.
(7) Widening and improvements of National Highways, etc.