THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (MAJOR GENERAL (RETD.) B.C. KHANDURI)
(a) to (h): A Statement is laid on the table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (h) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 3 FOR ANSWER ON 15.7.2002 REGARDING ROAD ACCIDENTS ASKED BY SHRI MAHESHWAR SINGH AND SHRI NARESH PUGLIA:
(a) to (d) : As per information available the number of road accidents per thousand motor
vehicles on National Highways has been decreasing over the last few years as given
below ;
Year Population of No. of Accidents Accidents per Vehicles all categories on National Highways thousand vehicle ( in thousand )
1996 33783 89046(P) 2.64
1997 37231 94014(P) 2.53
1998 40939 98690(P) 2.41
1999 45000 (Provisional) 103839 2.31
P= Provisional (information awaited from some States)
Analysis of road accidents reveals that about 83.5% of accidents are on account of fault of drivers. Condition of vehicles, roads etc. are some of the other factors that also contribute to accidents. Several road safety measures have been taken up. These include
(1) About 15,750 drivers of heavy motor vehicles have been
provided refresher training in the last Plan period.
(2) Publicity campaigns on road safety awareness through audio-visual-print media.
(3) Grants-in-aid is provided to voluntary organizations for administering road safety
programmes.
(4) Use of simulators in driver`s training is encouraged
(5) National Award instituted for voluntary organizations/individuals for
outstanding work in the field of road safety.
(6) All India Essay Competition on road safety are organized for school children for
creating awareness among the school children.
(7) Fitness norms for transport vehicles have been tightened.
(8) Widening /improvement of roads
(e) to (h) : National Highways Authority has not asked oil companies to move Petrol
pumps away from National Highways. However, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways,
in consultation of Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas and the oil companies is finalizing
guidelines regarding the layout for access to the fuel stations on National Highways,
for reducing accidents. This has been felt necessary as higher speed due to improved
road conditions and increase in the number of motor vehicles necessitate a free flow
of traffic on highways. In the absence of proper lay-out of fuel stations, access
and exit to highways obstructs traffic and thereby endangers safety of road users.