Lok Sabha Question No. 1715 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-11
Subject: Road Accidents
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Jayadev Galla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1715 ANSWERED ON 11 th  FEBRUARY, 2021

## ROAD ACCIDENTS

## 1715. SHRI JAYADEV GALLA:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

## be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the number of persons killed due to road accidents in India is highest in the world;
- (b) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether  there  has  been  any  decline  in  the  number  of accidents  after  enactment  of  amended  Motor  Vehicle  Act last year;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the manner in which the Government is using technology to prevent road accidents and reduce the number of resultant fatalities in the country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) Yes,  the  number  of  road  accident  deaths  in  India  is  highest across  the  199  countries  reported  in  the  'World  Road  Statistics' (WRS) 2018.  This  has  also  been  reported  in  the  Road  Accident  in India Report for 2019.
- (b) 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 Highways have 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  MV(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 550 ambulances at toll plazas on the completed corridor of National Highways.
-  Out  of  550  ambulances,  171  ambulances  have  been upgraded to Basic Life Support as per AIS-125.

The  Ministry  of  Road  Transport  &  Highways  has  notified 'Member of Parliaments' 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.

- (c)    &  (d)    A  comparison  of  the  monthly  data  on  accidents  and fatalities post implementation of the Motor Vehicle  (Amendment) Act  2019  shows  a  perceptible  decline  in  both  accidents  and fatalities  with  accidents  registering  a  decline  of  6.19%  and fatalities a decline of 4.57% over the period Sept to Dec 2019 as given in the Table below:-
- (e) The Government is using technology to prevent road accidents  and  to  reduce  the  number  of  resultant  fatalities  in  the country by taking various initiatives under the Roads and Vehicle engineering and Emergency care as follows:-
-  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 Highways have been reduced from 15,000 Passenger Car Units (PCUs) to 10,000 PCUs.
-  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
-  Emergency care :
-  The National Highways Authority of India has also deployed  550  ambulances  at toll  plazas  on  the completed corridor of National Highways.
-  Out  of  550  ambulances,  171  ambulances  have  been upgraded to Basic Life Support as per AIS-125.

Month wise comparison of Accidents and Fatalities at All India Level

|           | Accidents   | Accidents   | % Increase/ decrease   | Fatalities   | Fatalities   | % Increase/ decrease   |
|-----------|-------------|-------------|------------------------|--------------|--------------|------------------------|
|           | 2018        | 2019        |                        | 2018         | 2019         |                        |
| September | 35,387      | 32,059      | -9.40                  | 10,867       | 10,148       | -6.62                  |
| October   | 38,238      | 35,398      | -7.43                  | 12,172       | 11,595       | -4.74                  |
| November  | 38,417      | 36,936      | -3.86                  | 12,710       | 12,504       | -1.62                  |
| December  | 38,761      | 37,071      | -4.36                  | 13,405       | 12,660       | -5.56                  |

| TOTAL   | 1,50,803   | 1,41,464   | -6.19   | 49,154   | 46,907   | -4.57   |
|---------|------------|------------|---------|----------|----------|---------|

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