Lok Sabha Question No. 3057 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-16
Subject: Road Accidents in Bihar
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Dulal Chandra Goswami

## be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any directions/guidelines have been issued to the State of Bihar regarding road safety on National Highways (NHs);
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government for road safety on NHs in order to prevent road accidents in the country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a)  &  (b)      Ministry  has  issued  various  directions/guidelines  for  road safety on National Highways, which are as under : -
- i.       Ministry vide the letter dated 09.11.2020, issued All stage Road Safety Audit through independent Road Safety Experts of independent Engineer/Authority  Engineer  and/or  Road  Safety  Experts  engaged  by Authority (Ministry/NHAI/PWD) and observed that although the necessary provisioning to ensure all stage safety audit have already been made, However, in order to avoid any conflict of interest in this matter, the competent authority approved and directed to ensure all stages  road  safety  audits  done  through  independent  Road  Safety Experts of independent Engineer/Authority Engineer and/or Road Safety Experts engaged by Authority (Ministry/ NHAI / PWD).
- ii.      Ministry vide its letter dated 09.11.2020 issued Guidelines/SOP for monitoring and compliance of all safety norms on the Highways.
- iii.       Ministry on 09.09.2021 issued a letter regarding taking advance action  for  removal  of  accident  spots  on  NHs  as  per  Police  Reports

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3057 ANSWERED ON 16 TH  DECEMBER, 2021

## ROAD ACCIDENTS IN BIHAR

3057.  SHRI DULAL CHAND GOSWAMI:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

- without waiting for converting them into black spots after accidents/fatalities.
- iv.        The  Foot Over Bridges, Pedestrian Underpasses and Pedestrian Subways  are  constructed  to  ensure  reduction  in  accidents  involving pedestrians.  Financial  power  of  up  to  Rs.25  Cr  for  construction  of Pedestrian  Underpasses  and  Pedestrian  Subways  and  up  to  Rs.1.25 crores for construction of Foot Over Bridges is delegated to Regional Officers of NHAI to speed up the process.
- v.        The threshold for four laning of national highway has been reduced from 15,000 Passenger Car Units (PCUs) to 10,000 PCUs.
- (c)     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:
- a. 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. Total 714 work orders issued to various NGOs from 2018-19 to 2020-2021.
- b. Observance  of  National  Road  Safety  Month/Week  every  year  for spreading awareness and strengthening road safety.
- been
- c. A Certification Course for Road Safety Auditors has commenced in Indian Academy of Highway Engineers (IAHE).
- ii. Engineering (both of Roads and vehicles)
- Road engineering:
- a. High  priority  to  identification and  rectification  of  black  spots (accident prone spots) on national highways. Ministry has identified  5803  black  spots  on  National  Highways  based  on accident and fatality data of year 2015-2018 in 30 states/UTs. Out of 5803 Black spots, temporary measures have been taken on 5366 black spots and 3215 Black spots have been permanently rectified.
- b. Road  safety  has  been  made  an  integral  part  of  road  design  at planning stage.
- c. Ministry has delegated powers to Regional Officers of MORTH for technical  approval  to  the  detailed  estimates  for  rectification  of identified Road Accident black spots.
- d. Guidelines  for  pedestrian  facilities  on  National  Highways  for persons with disabilities have also been issued to all States / UTs.
- Vehicle engineering:
- a. Safety standards for automobiles have been improved in respect of Airbags,  Anti-Breaking  System  (ABS),  Tyres,  Crash  test,  Whole Vehicle Safety Conformity of Production (WVSCoP) etc.
- b. Ministry  has  notified  fitment  of  Speed  Limiting  devices  on  all transport vehicles.
- c. 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
- a. 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.
- b. Issue  of  Guidelines  for  protection  of  Good  Samaritans  and  draft rules as per MV (Amendment) Act, 2019 has been published.
- iv. Emergency care:
- a. The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 provides for a scheme for  the  cashless  treatment of victims of the accident during the golden hour.
- b. The National Highways Authority of India has made provisions for ambulances at all toll plazas on the completed corridor of National Highways.
- c. Further, 297 ambulances have been upgraded to Basic Life Support as per AIS-125 and upgradation for the remaining is under process.
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