Lok Sabha Question No. 847 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-07
Subject: Global Status Report on Road Safety
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: GAURAV GOGOI, JYOTIRADITYA MADHAVRAO SCINDIA

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 847

ANSWERED  ON  7 th   FEBRUARY, 2019

## GLOBAL STATUS REPORT ON ROAD SAFETY

847.    SHRI  GAURAV  GOGOI: SHRI  JYOTIRADITYA  M.  SCINDIA:

Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Union Government is aware about the latest Global Status Report on Road Safety in which India retains the dubious distinction of reporting the maximum number of road fatalities;
- (b) if so, the facts and details thereof;
- (c)  whether the road safety laws are poorly enforced in the country resulting in road fatalities; and
- (d) if so, the steps taken by Union Government in consultation with State Governments to enforce road safety laws strictly to check road fatalities?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI  MANSUKH  L. MANDAVIYA)

- (a) &  (b):    As  per  WHO's  report  titled  'The  state  of  road  safety  around  the  world', approximately 62% of reported road traffic deaths occur in 10 countries including India.
- (c  )  :      The  Government  has  already  approved a  National  Road  Safety Policy  in  March  2010. This  Policy  is  based  on  the  four  E's  of  Road  Safety  viz.  (i)  Education  (ii)  Emergency  (iii) Enforcement (iv) Engineering (roads as well as vehicles) and 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. The Ministry is taking all necessary steps to implement the policy to curb road accidents in the country.  And Ministry has also taken the following steps to enforce road safety laws strictly to check road fatalities:-
- i. The Government has constituted the National Road Safety Council as the apex body to take policy decisions in matters of road safety.
- ii. 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.
- iii. 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.
- iv. Road Safety Audit of selected stretches of National Highways has been taken up.
- v. Ministry  had  issued  guidelines  vide  O.M.  dated  14.1.2016  for  taking  up  of  Road  Safety Audits on National Highways either as part of EPC/BOT projects or as stand-alone Road Safety Audits.
- vi. 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.
- Vii    All the State Government/UTs have been requested to ensure that no license is issued to liquor vendors along National Highways.  Further they have also been requested to review cases where licence has already been given for liquor vendors along National Highways and to take corrective action.
- (viii)     Motor  Vehicles  (Amendment)  Bill  2017,  which  has  been  introduced  in  the  House  by Ministry  of  Road  Transport  &  Highways,  provides  for  enhanced  fines  for  the  offence  of drunken driving and other traffic violations.
- (ix) Enforcement of various provisions of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 is the responsibility of State Governments.  This  Ministry  has  issued  instructions  to  all  State  Governments  to  invoke Section 185 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 which provides for punishment of imprisonment or fine or both for the offence of drunken driving.
- (d): The  Committee  on  Road  Safety  constituted  by  the  Ministry  under  the  direction  of Hon'ble Supreme Court review the road safety with the States/UTs periodically.

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