Lok Sabha Question No. 3891 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-03
Subject: National Road Safety and Management System
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: HEMANT TUKARAM GODSE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3891

ANSWERED  ON  3 rd  JANUARY,  2019

## NATIONAL  ROAD  SAFETY  AND  MANAGEMENT  SYSTEM

3891.  SHRI  GODSE  HEMANT  TUKARAM:

Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  establish  a  National  Road  Safety  and Management System;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with its aims and objectives;
- (c) the time by which it is likely to be established; and
- (d) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to bring in added safety on roads by way of stricter checks on issuance of driving licences and higher penalties for traffic violations?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to   (c)    The Government has constituted the National Road Safety Council as the apex body to  take  policy  decisions  in  matters  of  road  safety.  Road  safety  is  a  multi-sectoral  and multi- dimensional issue requiring a multipronged approach at various levels.
- 1) 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.
- 2) The  Ministry  has  constituted  Group  of  Ministers  of  State  Transport  Ministers  to examine the best practices of Transport and suggest issues to improve road safety.
- 3) Based on the recommendation of Group of Minister, the Ministry introduced Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2017 covering entire gamut of road safety.
- 4) The  Bill  contains  the  provision  of  creation  of  Motor  Vehicle  Accident  Fund, implementation of Cashless Treatment Scheme during Golden Hour, setting up of a dedicated agency for road safety viz. National Road Safety and Traffic Management Board (NRSTMB), enhancement  of  penalty  for  traffic  rule  violations,  etc.  which  have  direct  impact  on  road safety.
- 5) 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.
- 6) Road safety has been made an integral part of road design at planning stage.
- 7) Road Safety Audit of selected stretches of National Highways has been taken up.
- 8) 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.
- 9) Setting up of model driving training institutes in States and refresher training to drivers of Heavy Motor Vehicle in the unorganized sector.
- 10) Advocacy/Publicity campaign on road safety through the electronic and print media.
- 11) Tightening of safety standards for vehicles like Seat Belts, anti-lock braking system etc.
- 12) High priority has been accorded to identification and rectification of black spots (accident prone spots) on national highways.
- 13) Guidelines for identification and rectification of black spots, carrying out road safety audits and  preparation  of  road  safety  improvement  proposals  on  NHs  and  also  guidelines  on implementation  of  road  safety  engineering  measures  on  state  roads  under  Central  Road Fund (CRF) have been issued.
- 14) 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.
- 15) 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.
- 16) 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.
- 17) Guidelines for pedestrian facilities on National Highways for persons with disabilities have also been issued to all States / UTs.
- 18) In order to ensure safe and smooth flow of traffic, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has envisaged a plan for replacement of all the Level Crossing on National Highways by ROBs / RUBs and replacement / widening / strengthening of weak and narrow bridges under a scheme Setu Bhartam. Under this programme, construction of 208 Level Crossings at an estimated cost of Rs. 20,800 Crore are included.
- 19) Two National Level Workshops and several Regional Training workshops in 11 states have been organized on Road Safety Engineering.
- 20) A Certification Course for Road Safety Auditors has been commenced in Indian Academy of Highway Engineers (IAHE) and 42 Auditors are certified.
- 21) 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.
- (d) The  Ministry  of  Road  Transport  and  Highways  has  introduced  Motor  Vehicle (Amendment) Bill  in  the  Lok  Sabha  covering  entire  gamut  of  road  safety  including  drunken driving.  The  Bill  inter-alia  envisages  to  enhance  the  penalty  amount     for  drunk  and  driving under  section  185  of  the  Motor  Vehicle  Act.  Besides,  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.