Lok Sabha Question No. 2583 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-17
Subject: Impact of Road Crashes on Household Poverty
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shashi Tharoor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2583

## ANSWERED ON 17 TH  MARCH, 2022

## IMPACT OF ROAD CRASHES ON HOUSEHOLD POVERTY

2583.  DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a)     whether the Government is aware of the World Bank Report 2021  that  highlights  the  correlation  between  road  crashes  and increase in household poverty in India and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (b)     whether more than 75 per cent of the poor households in India have  reported  an  income  decline  due  to  road  traffic  crashes amounting to as high as seven month's household income;
- (c)     if so, the details thereof, State-wise along with the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (d)     whether road crashes impact the poor disproportionately and pushes them into a vicious cycle of poverty and debt and if so, the financial and medical measures taken to rehabilitate them;
- (e)     whether the Government has promised to reduce road crash deaths by 50 percent by the year 2025 and if so, the steps taken in this regard; and
- (f)        whether  a  percentage  decline  in  such  deaths  has  been achieved so far after stricter implementation of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a)  to  (e)     World  Bank  has  conducted  the  study  which  aims  to capture the socioeconomic realities and nuances of road crashes at

the  sub-national  level  in  India.  The  study  was  conducted  in  four States in India, i.e., Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. The four states were selected on the basis of several criteria  including  demographic  and  geographical  representation, magnitude of fatality burden and socio-economic parameters such as economic growth, poverty rate and social welfare. Since the study has  been  conducted  only  on  4  states  no  state  wise  data  is available. While the quantitative surveys covered over 2400 interviews with LIH, HIH and truck drivers, the qualitative part of the study  included  3  Focus  Group  Discussions  (FGDs)  with  women  in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and 8 in-depth interviews with adolescents. The accidents are family specific and not group specific in term of is fallout.

Further, based on various studies including World Bank study, 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. To  create  effective  public  awareness  about  road  safety, Ministry undertakes various publicity measures and awareness campaigns  on  road  safety  through  social  media,  electronic media,  and  print  media.  Further,  Ministry  implements  a  road safety  advocacy  scheme  to  provide  financial  assistance  to various agencies for administering Road Safety Advocacy.
- b. Observance of National Road Safety Month/Week every year for spreading awareness and strengthening road safety.
- c. A  Certification  Course  for  Road  Safety Auditors  has  been commenced in Indian Academy of Highway Engineers (IAHE).
5. ii.
6. ·
7. Engineering (both of Roads and vehicles)
8. Road engineering:
- a. High priority  to  identification and  rectification  of  black  spots (accident prone spots) on national highways.
- b. Road safety has been made an integral part of road design at planning stage. Road Safety Audit of all highway projects has
11. been made mandatory at all stages i.e. design, construction, operation and maintenance.
- c. Ministry has delegated powers to Regional Officers 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.
- e. The  electronic  Detailed  Accident  Report  (e-DAR)  Project  has been initiated to establish to a central repository for reporting, management and analysis of road accidents data across the
15. India.
- Vehicle engineering:
- a. Safety  standards  for  automobiles  have  been  improved  in respect of Airbags, Anti-Breaking System (ABS), Tyres, Crash test,  Speed  Limiting  devices,  comply  with  fire  Alarm  and protection system etc.
- b. 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.
- c. This Ministry, vide notification dated 15th February, 2022 has prescribed norms related to safety measures for children below four  years  of  age,  riding  or  being  carried  on  a  motor  cycle. Further, it specifies use of a safety harness, crash helmet and restricts speed to 40kmph.
- iii. Enforcement:
- a. The motor vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 provides for strict penalties for ensuring strict compliance and enhancing deterrence for violation of traffic rules and strict enforcement through use of technology.
- 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  with  paramedical  staff/Emergency  Medical Technician/Nurse  at  toll plazas  on  the  completed  corridor  of National Highways.
- c. Ministry has implemented a Scheme for grant of Award to the Good  Samaritan  who  has  saved  life  of  a  victim  of  a  fatal accident involving a motor vehicle by administering immediate assistance and rushing to Hospital/Trauma Care Centre within the Golden Hour of the accident to provide medical treatment.

(f)      The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 has been amended by Parliament on 9 th  August, 2019. It focuses on road safety and includes, inter-alia, hike in penalties for traffic violations, electronic monitoring of the same, enhanced penalties for juvenile driving, computerization/automation  of  vehicle  fitness  and  driving,  tests, recall  of  defective  vehicles,  streamlining  the  third  party  insurance and payment of increased compensation for hit and run cases etc. The  Amendment  has  strengthened  the  Law  to  improve  the  road Safety scenario and reduce loss of lives.

As per the information available with the Ministry, total number of road accidents in the country during the last three calendar years from 2018 to 2020 (provisional) is given in the table below:-

|   Year | Total Number of Road Accidents   | % change   |
|--------|----------------------------------|------------|
|   2018 | 4,67,044                         |            |
|   2019 | 4,49,002                         | -3.86      |
|   2020 | 3,66,138                         | -18.46     |

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