Lok Sabha Question No. 1005 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-27
Subject: Road Accidents
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya, Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt, Ramya  Haridas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO. 1005 ANSWERED ON  27 TH  JUNE, 2019

## ROAD ACCIDENTS

## 1005.   SHRI  MOHANBHAI KALYANJI KUNDARIYA: SHRIMATI  RANJAN BEN DHANANJAY BHATT: SHRIMATI  RAMYA HARIDAS:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a)    whether road accidents are increasing in various parts of the country;
- (b)    if so, whether the Government is considering to take special steps to check road accidents and if    so, the details thereof;
- (c)   whether it is a fact that Government has asked the automakers to work towards safe designs and  explore  the  possibility  of  use  of  silicon  in  tyres  as  part  of  its  efforts  to  reduce  road accidents and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)    whether the Government is also mandating pre and post journey alcohol tests of drivers as well as  their  assistants  of  the  State  owned  transport  operators,  private  operators  and  commercial vehicle operators and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

(a) No Sir, the Ministry collects data/information on road accidents from the Police Department of all State/UTs in the prescribed format on calendar year-wise. The latest data of road accidents published by the ministry  are  for  the  calendar  year  2017.The  data  for  calendar  year  2017  reveals  that  the  number  of  road accidents was down by 3.3% and the number of injuries by 4.8% in 2017 as compared to 2016.

(b) Road safety is a multi-sectoral and multi- dimensional issue requiring a multipronged approach at various  levels.  The  main  thrust  of  accident  prevention  and  control  is  on  4  E's,  i.e.  (i)  Education,  (ii) Enforcement,  (iii)  Engineering  and  (iv)  Environment  and  Emergency  care  of  road  accident  victims.  The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways administer Motor Vehicles (MV) Act 1988 and Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) 1989. However, its provisions are enforced by the States / UTs. The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways have been issuing advisories to the States / UTs from time to time for strict enforcement of provisions of MV Act 1988 and CMVR 1989.

Ministry  has taken a number of steps including long terms strategy to prevent road accidents and road accident fatalities as per details mentioned under: -

- (i) Government has launched a mobile app for highway users i.e. 'SukhadYatra 1033' which enables highways users to report potholes and other safety hazards on National Highways including accidents.
- (ii)      Rectification of identified Black spots.
- (iii)    Road Safety Week is observed every calendar year for spreading awareness about safer behavior of road users on National Highways.
- (iv)      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.
- (v)    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.
- (vi)    Road safety has been made an integral part of road design at planning stage.
- (vii)  The threshold for four laning of national highway has been reduced from 15,000 Passenger Car Units (PCUs)  to  10,000  PCUs.  About  52,000  Km  of  stretches  of  State  Highways  has  been  identified  for conversion to national highways.
- (viii)  Setting up of model driving training institutes in States.
- (ix)    Advocacy/Publicity campaign on road safety through the electronic and print media.
- (x)    Tightening of safety standards for vehicles like Seat Belts, anti-lock braking system etc.
- (xi)   High priority has been accorded to identification and rectification of black spots (accident prone spots) on national highways.
- (xii)    As  a  measure  of  supplementing the efforts of States/UTs for minimizing the accident potential at the identified  locations  /  stretches  through  engineering  improvement  on  state  roads,  Ministry  of  Road Transport  &  Highways  had  taken  a  decision  to  sanction  road  safety  works  on  state  roads  with  an earmarked allocation of 10% of funds allocated to the state roads under Central Road Fund.
- (xiii)  Ministry has delegated powers to Regional Officers of MORTH for technical approval to the detailed estimates for rectification of identified Road Accident black spots for expediting the rectification process to ensure safety of road users.
- (xiv)  Guidelines  for pedestrian facilities  on  National Highways  for  persons  with  disabilities  have  also  been issued to all States / UTs.
- (xv)  A Certification Course for Road Safety Auditors has been commenced in Indian Academy of Highway Engineers (IAHE) and 42 Auditors are certified.
- (xvi)  Ministry  of  Road  Transport  &  Highways  has  constituted  a  District  Road  Safety  Committee  in  each district  of  the  country  to  promote  awareness  amongst  road  users  under  the  chairmanship  of  Hon'ble Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from the district.
- (xvii) Free Eye Check-up Camp and distribution of eye glasses is conducted for truck/bus drivers operating on NH.
- (xviii)  Capacity  building  through  training  of  NHAI  field  staff  /  Concessionaires/Contractors/Consultants engaged in NHAI project works throughout India.
- (xix)  Removal of Liquor Shops as per directions of Hon'ble Supreme Court vide circular of   F. No. RW/NH33044/309/2016/S&R dated 06-04-2017 and 01-06-2017.
- (c  )    This  Ministry  has  issued  notification  S.O.  1139  (E)  dated  28.04.2015  and  S.O.  2412  (E)  dated 03.09.2015 wherein for amendment of Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 (CMVRs) the following crash standards have been notified: -
- (i). Automotive Industry Standard 098-2008 as amended from time to time for Protection of occupants in the  event  of  an  Offset  Frontal  Collision  shall  be  mandatory  for  the  new  models  from  1 st October, 2017 and for all models 1 st October, 2019
- (ii). Automotive Industry Standard 099 -2008 as amended from time to time for Side door impact for all passenger cars, Protection of Occupants in the event of Lateral Collision shall be mandatory for the new models from 1 st October, 2018 and for all models with effect from 1 st October, 2019. Further, silicon derivatives are used in manufacturing of tyres to improve rolling resistance, road grip

and longevity.

- (d)            No Sir. No such proposal is under consideration.

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