Lok Sabha Question No. 449 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-03
Subject: Development of Technology to Prevent Accidents on Highways
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Kanakmal Katara, Keshari Devi Patel

## be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps being taken by the Government to check accidents on highways and expressways;
- (b) whether the Government is considering to develop any technology which can help in preventing accidents and provide early alerts and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any steps have been taken to equip the new cars with software  app  or  technology  that  can  provide  alerts  about  sharp turns, patholes, speed breakers etc. on highways; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)     This Ministry has notified various rules/ regulations under Central Motor  Vehicles  Rules  (CMVR),  1989  regarding speed  limiting  device/ speed  governor,  norms  for  crash  test,  Anti-Lock  Braking  Systems, Airbags, fire  Alarm  and  protection  system  in  buses  etc. to  check accidents. Further, some measures also have been taken by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) are as under : -
- (i)      Each black spot location is being inspected by Road Safety Officers of Regional Offices, Project Director of Concerned PIU and  Road  Safety  Expert  of  the  Independent  Engineers  (IE)/ Authority's Engineers (AE) /Safety Consultants and recommend the  mitigation  measures.  Based  on  which  approval  is  being granted by the Regional Officer.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.449 ANSWERED ON 3 RD  FEBRUARY, 2022

## DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGY TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS ON HIGHWAYS

449.  SHRI KANAKMAL KATARA: SHRIMATI KESHARI DEVI PATEL:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

- (ii)     NHAI has issued comprehensive guidelines on preparation of  proposal,  granting  sanctions  and  execution  of  work  for rectification  of  blackspots  vide  circular  no.  1.1.31/2019  dated 19.12.2019. Under these guidelines, Regional Officers have been delegated financial power of upto Rs. 50 Cr for rectification of blackspots including land acquisition.

## (iii)    Road Safety Audits:

- Third-Party Audits are being  carried out at design  / construction / operation & maintenance stages of development of  highways  as  per  IRC  guidelines  and  audit  observations  are being complied.
- NHAI conducted  Road  Assessment  Programme  (iRAP) safety ratings of 1288 km of National highways in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The study assess safety  features  of  road  based  on  different  road  users  such  as vehicle occupants, motorcyclists, bicyclist, and pedestrians. The action  plan  for  implementation  of  their  recommendations  are under progress with respective Regional Offices.
- Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), through Indian  Academy  of  Highway  Engineers  (IAHE),  has  signed  an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SaveLIFE foundation for implementation of 'Zero Fatality Corridors (ZFC)' on national highways. Study on two stretches in UP and Maharashtra has been conducted & the action plan for  implementation  of  their recommendation  are  under  progress  with  respective  Regional Offices.

Further, additional 14 stretches in 13 states have been identified recently in Dec 2021 and study on the same is under progress.

- NHAI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Institute for Road Traffic Education (IRTE) and Institute for Development and Communication, Chandigarh (IDC) to promote road safety and collaborate in the areas of traffic management through  a  programme  titled  'Capacity  building  of  Road  Safety Management through the Safe Systems Approach Programme'. The study is being implemented, examined & monitored under Regional Office-Chandigarh.
- (iv)     Foot  over  bridges  (FoBs), Pedestrian  underpasses  (PUP) and  Pedestrian  Subways  (PSW)  are  constructed  to  ensure reduction in accidents involving pedestrians. 194 FoBs have been completed, 95  FoBs  are  under  construction  and  209  FoBs  are included in upcoming projects under approval.
- (v)     Financial  power  of  up  to  Rs.25  Cr  for  construction  of PUP/PSW and up to Rs. 1.25 crores for construction of FoBs is delegated to Regional Officers of NHAI.
- (vi)     Pedestrian  Markings  marked  at  median  openings  and junctions. (vii) Footpaths/Walkways are constructed in Urban/habited areas. Providing Street lighting in inhabited section of NHs. (viii)  Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act,2019 has been enforced which has new provisions as (1A) of section 116, (1A) -  Pertains to  erect/removal of traffic signs by road authorities of Section 138  (1A)-pertains to power of State Government to make rules in the interest of road safety. etc., regarding Road Safety. (ix)     Traffic  calming  measures  such  as  traffic  warning  signs, delineators, road studs, bar markings, humps at approach roads, etc.  are  taken  at  vulnerable  sections  of  National  Highways  to reduce road accident fatalities (x)      Capacity building on safety measures through training of NHAI field offices /Concessionaires / Contractors / Consultants engaged in NHAI project works throughout India. (xi) Incident Management Vehicles (Ambulances, Patrol Vehicles and Tow Cranes) are deployed on NH stretches. (xii)    Road  Safety  Week  is  observed  every  calendar  year  for spreading  awareness  about  safer  behaviour  of  road  users  on National Highways.  However, last year Road Safety Month was observed from 18.01.2021 to 17.02.2021 to give further emphasis on this issue. (xiii) During Road  Safety Month  2021,  the following major activities  have  been  carried  out  for  enhancement  of  Safety  of Road users. a.      Awareness drive for Road Safety have been conducted through flex, banners. Workshop, Discussion. b.      Motivation and road side safety awareness programme conducted  for  the  school  /college  students  through  Quiz completion, drawing competition, Essay writing and speech competition etc. c.  Campaign  conducted  at  Toll  plazas/public  places/Gram Panchayat  for  awareness  about  use  of  helmet,  seat  belt, and            disciplined  road  use  and to  give  the  first  chance to           pedestrians at zebra crossing user to give the first
- chance to        pedestrians at zebra crossing etc.

d.     Campaigning made for awakening the people at public place  regarding  Supreme  Court  direction  to  help  the  road accident victims to get to the nearby hospital in golden hour so that the life can be saved. e. Overloading was checked and drivers were advised for safe use. f.        Training of Pedestrians in road crossing and preventing Wrong side Driving have been conducted. Free Eye Check-up Camp and distribution of eye glasses

- g. are conducted for truck/bus drivers operating on NHs

(b)       This  Ministry  has  issued  a  notification  G.S.R  1483(E)  dated 07.12.2017 vide which Motor vehicles of category M1, manufactured on and after the 1st day of July, 2019, are to comply with the additional safety  features  like  seat  belt  reminder,  manual  over-ride,  speed  alert system,  vehicle  reverse  gear  sensor  etc.  and  its  requirements  as stipulated in Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 145 -2017. (c) & (d)     No such proposal to equip the new cars with software app or technology is under consideration with the Ministry. However, Ministry have  signed  a  MoU  with  IIT  Madras  and  MapmyIndia  for  enhancing navigation  app  of  MapmyIndia,  to  provide  road  safety  alerts  to  users about upcoming accident hazards while driving. By using this navigation app, users will get voice and visual alerts about upcoming accident prone zones, speed breakers, sharp curves and potholes etc.

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