Lok Sabha Question No. 1996 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-22
Subject: Prevention of Road Accidents
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Nihal Chand Chauhan

## be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has recently hiked the amount of fine for violation  of  road  traffic  rules  in  view  of  the  rise  in  cases  of  road accidents and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the extent to which the number of such accidents has come down as a result thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to launch some other measures to bring down the number of road accidents;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the  details  of  measures  taken/to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to create awareness among the people regarding road traffic rules?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

[GEN. (DR.) V.K. SINGH (RETD.)]

(a)  Yes,  Sir.  The  Motor  Vehicles  (Amendment)  Act,  2019  passed  by  the Parliament was published on 9 th  August, 2019. It is  aimed to strengthen

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1996

ANSWERED ON 22 ND  SEPTEMBER, 2020

## PREVENTION OF ROAD ACCIDENTS

1996.  SHRI NIHAL CHAND:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

lM+d ifjogu vkSj jktekxZ ea=h road safety scenario in the country and inter alia provides for increase in penalties for violation of provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

(b)  As  per  the  provisional  information  available  from  certain  States  and UTs, the number of road accidents before and after implementation of the said Act in the country is as under:-

| Month wise comparison of Accidents and Fatalities   | Month wise comparison of Accidents and Fatalities   | Month wise comparison of Accidents and Fatalities   | Month wise comparison of Accidents and Fatalities   | Month wise comparison of Accidents and Fatalities   | Month wise comparison of Accidents and Fatalities   | Month wise comparison of Accidents and Fatalities   |
|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
|                                                     | Accidents                                           | Accidents                                           | Increase/ decrease                                  | Fatalities                                          | Fatalities                                          | Increase/ decrease                                  |
|                                                     | 2018                                                | 2019                                                |                                                     | 2018                                                | 2019                                                |                                                     |
| August                                              | 35811                                               | 34051                                               | -4.91                                               | 11040                                               | 10710                                               | -2.99                                               |
| September                                           | 35337                                               | 32016                                               | -9.40                                               | 10843                                               | 10107                                               | -6.79                                               |
| October                                             | 38182                                               | 35365                                               | -7.38                                               | 12147                                               | 11577                                               | -4.69                                               |
| November                                            | 38366                                               | 36866                                               | -3.91                                               | 12691                                               | 12463                                               | -1.80                                               |
| December                                            | 38705                                               | 37007                                               | -4.39                                               | 13379                                               | 12598                                               | -5.84                                               |
| TOTAL Aug- Dec(*)                                   | 186401                                              | 175305                                              | -5.95                                               | 60100                                               | 57455                                               | -4.40                                               |
|                                                     | Accidents                                           | Accidents                                           | Increase/ decrease                                  | Fatalities                                          | Fatalities                                          | Increase/ decrease                                  |
|                                                     | 2019                                                | 2020                                                |                                                     | 2019                                                | 2020                                                |                                                     |

| January            |   40602 |   38920 |   -4.14 |   13292 |   12267 |   -7.71 |
|--------------------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|
| February           |   36726 |   38472 |    4.75 |   12199 |   12587 |    3.18 |
| March(#)           |   38793 |   31049 |  -19.96 |   13155 |   10538 |  -19.89 |
| April - June       |  112215 |   50336 |  -55.14 |   39013 |   18876 |  -51.61 |
| TOTAL Jan- June(@) |  230355 |  160797 |  -30.19 |   79678 |   56288 |  -29.35 |

(*):data for the State of Tripura for 2019 has not been received

(@): Excluding the data for the state of Tripura and Jharkhand as the same has not been received

(#) data from J&K not included as the same has not been received

(c) to (e):  The Ministry has formulated a multi-pronged strategy to address the issue of road safety based on Education, Engineering (both of roads and vehicles), Enforcement and Emergency Care. Accordingly, various initiatives have been taken by the Ministry as detailed below:

## (i) Education:

-  The Ministry implements a scheme for undertaking publicity measures  and  awareness  campaigns  on  road  safety  to  create awareness  among  road  users  through  the  electronic  media,  print media, NGOs etc.
-  Observance of National Road Safety Week every year for spreading awareness and strengthening road safety.
-  A Certification Course for Road Safety Auditors has been commenced in Indian Academy of Highway Engineers (IAHE).
- (ii) Engineering (both of Roads and vehicles)
-  Road engineering
-  High priority  to  identification  and  rectification  of  black  spots (accident prone spots) on national highways.
-  Road safety has been made an integral part of road design at planning stage.
-  The  threshold  for  four  laning  of  national  highway  has  been reduced  from  15,000  Passenger  Car  Units  (PCUs)  to  10,000 PCUs.
-  Ministry  has  delegated  powers  to  Regional  Officers  of  MORTH for technical approval to the detailed estimates for rectification of identified Road Accident black spots.
- Guidelines  for  pedestrian  facilities  on  National  Highways  for persons with disabilities have also been issued to all States /
-  UTs.
-  Vehicle engineering:
-  Safety standards for automobiles have been improved.
-  Ministry has notified fitment of Speed Limiting devices on all transport vehicles
-  Scheme  for  setting  up  one  model  Inspection  &  Certification Centre in each State/UT with Central assistance for testing the fitness of vehicles through an automated system

## (iii) Enforcement

-  The  recently  passed  Motor  Vehicles  (Amendment)  Act,  2019 provides  for  strict  enforcement  through  use  of  technology  and further provides for strict penalties for ensuring strict compliance and enhancing deterrence for violation of traffic rules.
-  Issue  of  Guidelines  for  protection  of  Good  Samaritans  and  draft rules  as  per  Motor  Vehicles  (Amendment)  Act,  2019  has  been published.

## (iv) Emergency care:

-  The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 provides for a scheme for  the  cashless  treatment  of  victims  of  the  accident  during  the golden hour.
-  The  National  Highways  Authority  of  India  has  also deployed  466 ambulances  at toll  plazas  on  the  completed  corridor  of  National Highways.

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