Question : SPEED LIMIT ON HIGHWAYS

(a) the details of accidents and life lost reportedly due to over-speeding during each of the last three years and the current year;

(b) whether the recent study has revealed that maximum speed limit fixed for the vehicles on national and State Highways is unscientific;

(c) if so, the details thereof along with the measures taken to review and revise the maximum speed limits on National Highways taking into account road geometrics, type and level of development, road function and proportion of vulnerable road users and environmental emissions;

(d) whether the Government has taken note that the speed limit signages placed on different stretches are inadequate to educate the road users about the speed limits; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the remedial action taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)

(a) A statement indicating total number of road accident and persons killed in road accident due to over speeding during the calendar year 2010 to 2013 is at Annexure I.

(b) & (c) No study has been carried out recently by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways about maximum speed limit. However, based on the report of Bahadur Committee, the Ministry has notified the speed limit for different class of vehicles vide S.O. 1997(E) dated 5th August 2014 (copy enclosed at Annexure II). The State Governments can restrict the speeds based on local conditions.

(d) & (e) Road signage are based on the standards and specification of IRC and are adequate to convey meaningful information to road users. The signages are placed as per condition of stretch required and maintained accordingly.