Lok Sabha Question No. 2438 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-13
Subject: Reduction in Road Accidents and Economic Losses
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri Gaurav Gogoi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2438 ANSWERED ON 13 TH  MARCH, 2025

## REDUCTION IN ROAD ACCIDENTS AND ECONOMIC LOSSES

2438. SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

## be pleased to state:

- (a)      the  Government's  targets  for  reducing  road  accidents  and fatalities under the National Road Safety Policy by 2030;
- (b)   the number of black spots that have been identified on highways in the last three years and the percentage of those rectified;
- (c)    the status of implementing the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, regarding penalties, electronic enforcement and safety audits;
- (d)    the targeted measures being taken by the Government to reduce two-wheeler and pedestrian fatalities; and
- (e)    whether the Government has studied the impact of road defects, over-speeding  and  drunk  driving  on  accidents  and  if  so,  the  policy changes brought as a result thereto?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a)   India  is  committed  to  reduce  number  of  road  traffic  deaths  and injuries to 50% by 2030.
- (b)   As  on  date,  1330 Black-spots have been identified for the series 2020-22, against which 612 Short Term measures and 236 long term measures have been completed.
- (c)    Government vide notification S.O. 3110(E) dated the 28th August, 2019 and S.O. 3147(E) dated the 30th August, 2019 has appointed 1st day  of  September,  2019  as  the  date  on  which  around  sixty  sections including the provisions of enhanced penalties for the offences under

the  Motor  Vehicles  (Amendment)  Act,  2019  had  come  into  force. Further, Government vide S.O. 2806(E) dated 12th July, 2021 brought into force section 47 (Section 136A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988) of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 with effect from 15th July, 2021.

Government  vide G.S.R.  Notification  575(E)  dated  11th  August  2021 notified  Rules  for  Electronic  Monitoring  and  Enforcement  of  Road Safety  at  high-risk  and  high-density  corridors  on  National  Highways, State  Highways  and  at  critical  junctions  in  cities   having  more  than one million population and cities under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in the Country.

- (d)  and  (e) As  per  the  data  received  from  the  States/UTs,  road accidents 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  seat  belts,  vehicular  condition, weather condition, road condition,etc. As per the Report for the year 2022, around 78% of road accidents were caused due to drivers' fault.

The  Motor  Vehicles  (Amendment)  Act,  2019  passed  by  Parliament, 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.

Government  has  prescribed  norms  related  to  safety  measures  for children  below  four  years  of  age,  riding  or  being  carried  on  a  motor cycle.  It  also  specifies  use  of  a  safety  harness,  crash  helmet  and restricts speed to 40kmph.

There are various provisions for pedestrian safety on National Highways such as :-

-  Provisions of pedestrian facilities have been specified in the IRC: 103-2012 "Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities". A Circular dated 17th  June,  2015  has  also  been  issued  wherein  guidelines  for Pedestrian  Facilities  on  National  Highways  for  persons  with disabilities have been stipulated.
-  Detailed guidelines are contained  in  IRC:99-2018  for  traffic calming  measures,  in  which  various  traffic  measures  such  as rumble strip, Speed Bumps, Speed Table/Raised Pedestrian Crossing  etc.  are  provided  on  National  Highways  and  adjoining road meeting with a National Highway.

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