Lok Sabha Question No. 546 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-04
Subject: Road Accidents in Maharashtra
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Poonam (Mahajan) Vajendla Rao

## be pleased to state:

- (a) the total number of accidents occurred, persons killed and injured on National Highways (NH) due to damaged highways and traffic congestion in Maharashtra during the last three years;
- (b) whether it is a fact that majority of these accidents were caused by heavy vehicles, mainly trucks and buses, passing through the main cities;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the  remedial  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  prevent accidents on NHs in Maharashtra?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) Ministry does not maintain the information regarding accidents occurring due to damaged highways and traffic congestion. However, as per the data received from police department total number of road accidents, persons killed & persons injured on National Highways in

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 546 ANSWERED ON 4 th  FEBRUARY, 2021

## ROAD ACCIDENTS IN MAHARASHTRA

## 546. SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

Maharashtra during last three calendar years i. e. 2017 to 2019 is given in the table below:-

|   Years | Total Number of Road accidents on all roads   |   Total Number of Road accidents on National Highways | Total Number of Road accidents in Maharashtra on National Highways   | Total Number of persons killed on all roads   |   Total Number of persons killed on National Highways |
|---------|-----------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | 2                                             |                                                     3 | 4                                                                    | 5                                             |                                                     6 |
|    2017 | 464,910                                       |                                                141466 | 9237(6.53)                                                           | 147,913                                       |                                                 53181 |
|    2018 | 467,044                                       |                                                140843 | 9355(6.64)                                                           | 151,417                                       |                                                 54046 |
|    2019 | 449,002                                       |                                                137191 | 8360(6.09)                                                           | 151,113                                       |                                                 53872 |

| Total Number of persons killed in Maharashtra on National Highways   | Total Number of persons injured on all roads   |   Total Number of persons injured on National Highways | Total Number of persons injured in Maharashtra on National Highways   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 7                                                                    | 8                                              |                                                      9 | 10                                                                    |
| 3637(2.46)                                                           | 470,975                                        |                                                 142622 | 8351(5.86)                                                            |
| 4088(2.70)                                                           | 469,418                                        |                                                 140622 | 8457(6.01)                                                            |
| 3799(2.51)                                                           | 451,361                                        |                                                 137549 | 7263(5.28)                                                            |

- (b) &   (c)    No Sir.   Road Accidents occuring due to multiple causes such as over speeding, drunken driving/consumption of alcohol, driving on wrong side/lane indiscipline, fault of the driver of motor vehicle, use of mobile phones during driving, mechanical defect/fault of the vehicle defect in road condition, weather condition and    lack of knowledge on road signage etc. These various factors can broadly be categorized into human error, road condition/environment and vehicular condition that lead to accidents on roads.

(d) The  Motor  Vehicle  (Amendment)  Act,  2019  which  was  recently passed  by  Parliament  focuses  on  road  safety  and  includes,  inter-alia, revision  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.

The Ministry issues regulations to improve vehicle safety standards, undertakes site specific interventions to address black spots, and also mobilises various activities to promote road safety such as road safety advocacy and awareness programmes.

The  Ministry  of  Road  Transport  &  Highways  has  notified 'Member of Parliaments' Road Safety Committee' in each district of the country  to  audit  promote  awareness  amongst  road  users  under  the chairmanship of Hon'ble Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from the

district.

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  month  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 of 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 also 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.

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