Lok Sabha Question No. 426 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-08
Subject: Deaths due to Road Accidents
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Kunwar Danish Ali

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that most of the victims of road accidents die due to the absence of adequate emergency medical services along the National Highways and other main roads in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) the number of persons died due to road accidents in the country during the last five years; and
- (d) the steps taken or being taken by the Government to check/prevent the road accidents?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b)       As per yearly analysis of road accident data, based on the FIR data received from various States/UTs, road accident deaths occur due to multiple causes such as over speeding, use of mobile phone, drunken driving/consumption  of  alcohol  and  drug,  driving  on  wrong  side/  lane indiscipline, jumping red light, non-use of safety devices such as helmets and  seatbelts,  vehicular  condition,  weather  condition,  road  condition, fault of driver / cyclist/ pedestrian etc.

With the overall objective to bring down preventable deaths due to road accidents, the Government of India has taken initiatives towards setting up of Trauma Care Facilities (TCFs) along the national highways. During the 11 th  Fiveyear Plan, under the scheme namely 'Assistance for Capacity Building for Developing Trauma Care Facilities in Government Hospitals on National Highways', financial assistance was provided to States/Union Territories (UTs) for upgrading/ strengthening trauma care facilities  in  identified  Government  Hospitals/Medical  Colleges.  The scheme continued during 12 th  Five Year Plan as 'Capacity Building for

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 426 ANSWERED ON 8 TH  DECEMBER, 2022

## DEATHS DUE TO ROAD ACCIDENTS

## 426.  KUNWAR DANISH ALI:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

Developing  Trauma  Care  Facilities  in  Government.  The  Programme con tinued  beyond  12th  Five  Year  Plan  as  'National  Programme  for Prevention  and  Management  of  Trauma  and  -Burn  Injuries'  wherein Trauma Care Facilities identified during 11 th  and 12 th  Five Year Plan are being supported.  So far,  196  TCFs  have  been sanctioned  under programme.

- (c)     As per the data received from police department of all States/UTs, the  total  number  of  persons  who  died  due  to  road  accidents  in  the country during the last five years are given in the table below :-
- (d)     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:-

|   Year |   Total Number of Persons Killed |
|--------|----------------------------------|
|   2017 |                           147913 |
|   2018 |                           151417 |
|   2019 |                           151113 |
|   2020 |                           131714 |
|   2021 |                           153972 |

## (1)        Education:

i.        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 scheme to provide financial assistance to various agencies for administering Road Safety Advocacy.

ii.         Observance  of  National Road Safety  Month/Week every year for spreading awareness and strengthening road safety.

iii.      A Certification Course for Road Safety Auditors has been commenced in  Indian  Academy  of  Highway  Engineers  (IAHE) and officers of the Ministry/ National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) are also being trained.

iv.      To impart driving training both theoretical and practical to the existing and aspiring drivers, for setting standards and monitoring driving training and issue of driving licence based on scientific process of testing skills, Ministry has been implementing  a  scheme  for  setting  up  of  Institute  of  Driving

Training & Research (IDTRs), Regional Driving Training Centres (RDTCs)  and  Driving  Training  Centres  (DTCs)  at  state/district level across the Country.

- (2)        Engineering (both of Roads and vehicles)

## 2.1.      Road engineering:

- i.        Road safety has been made an integral part of road design at planning stage. Road Safety Audit of all highway projects has been made mandatory at all  stages  i.e.  design,  construction, operation and maintenance.
- ii.        High  priority  to  identification and  rectification  of  black spots (accident prone spots) on National Highways.

iii.      Guidelines for pedestrian facilities on National Highways for persons with disabilities have also been issued to all States / UTs.

iv.       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 Country.

- v.        This  Ministry  and  IRC  has  issued  various  codes  and guidelines,  time  to  time,  to  implement  various  road  safety measures so as to minimize accidents on National Highways.

## 2.2       Vehicle engineering:

i.        The Ministry has notified regarding mandatory provision of  an  airbag  for  the  passenger  seated  on  the  front  seat  of  a vehicle, next to the driver.

ii.       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.       Ministry has notified the mandatory fitment of following listed safety technologies from 01st July 2019.

For M1 category vehicles:

a. Seat Belt Reminder (SBR) for driver and co-driver.

b. Manual Override for central locking system c. Over speed warning system.

iv.      This Ministry has proposed that all front facing seats in vehicles of M1 category, manufactured on and after 01st April 2023, be provided with three point seat belt.

v.       Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) for certain classes of L [Motor  vehicle  with  less  than  four  wheels  and  includes  a Quadricycle], M [Motor vehicles with at least four wheels used for carrying passengers] and N [Motor vehicles with at least four wheels used for carrying goods which may also carry persons in addition  to  goods,  subject  to  conditions  stipulated  in  BIS standards] categories.

vi.       This  Ministry  has  mandated  approval  of  vehicles  for protection  of  occupants  in  the  event  of  an  Offset  Frontal Collision, for requirements for behavior of steering mechanism of the vehicle in a Head-on collision, Protection of Occupants in the event of Lateral Collision and for approval of vehicles with regard to protection of pedestrians and other vulnerable road users in the event of a collision with a motor vehicle.

vii.    The Ministry has mandated speed limiting function/speed limiting device in all transport vehicles, except  for  two wheelers, three wheelers, quadricycles, fire tenders, ambulances and police vehicles.

- viii.      This Ministry has mandated compliance of the fully built buses  (with  a  seating  capacity  of  22  passengers  or  above, excluding driver), manufactured on and after 1st April 2019, with the  requirements  of  Fire  Detection,  Alarm  and  Suppression system. Further, compliance of type III buses of category M3 and  school  buses  with  fire  alarm  and  protection  system  in occupant compartment has also been mandated, on and after 26th January 2023.
- ix.       The Ministry has prescribed the format in which vehicle manufacturers  issue  the  Road  Worthiness  Certification  for registering motor vehicles.
- x. 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.

xi.     Ministry vide Notifications dated 23 rd  September, 2021 and 31 st  October, 2022 published the rules for recognition, regulation  and  control  of  Automated  Testing  Stations  (ATS). These rules define the procedure for fitness testing of vehicles through automated equipment and the procedure for grant of fitness certificate by ATSs.

xii. Notification vide GSR  272(E)  dated  05 th  April.  2022, provides  for  mandatory  fitness  of  vehicles  only  through  an Automated Testing Stations.  It mandates the fitness check of Heavy  Goods  Vehicles/Heavy  Passenger  Motor  Vehicles  only through automated testing stations with effect from 01st April 2023 onwards, and for Medium Goods Vehicles/Medium Passenger Motor Vehicles and Light Motor vehicles (Transport) with effect from 01st June 2024 onwards.

## (3)        Enforcement:

i.        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.

ii. Ministry vide notification GSR 594(E) dated 29 th  September, 2020 has published rules regarding protection of Good Samaritans.

iii.      Ministry has issued notification G.S.R. 575(E) dated 11th August, 2021 for Electronic Monitoring and Enforcement of Road Safety. The rules specify the detailed provisions for placement of  electronic  enforcement  devices  (speed  camera,  closedcircuit  television  camera,  speed  gun,  body  wearable  camera, dashboard camera, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR),  weigh  in  machine  (WIM)  and  any  such  technology).

## (4)        Emergency care:

i.        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.

ii.        Ministry  vide  notification  dated  25 th  February,  2022  has enhanced  compensation  of  victims  of  Hit  and  Run  motor accidents (from Rs. 12,500 to Rs. 50,000 for grievous hurt and from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 2,00,000 for death).

iii.       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.

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