Lok Sabha Question No. 1289 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-27
Subject: Road Accidents
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Geetha Viswanath Vanga, Sanjeev Kumar Singari, Chinta Anuradha

## be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of road accidents reported and persons killed in the country  during  the  last  three  years  due  to  poorly  maintained National Highways (NHs), State/UT-wise;
- (b) whether  the  number  of  road  accidents  in  the  country  has  been increasing over the years;
- (c)
- if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) the initiatives taken to restructure the roads and implement safety measures to check such accidents in the country; and
- (e) the funds allocated/sanctioned and spent for this purpose during the last three years?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (e)     Ministry  compiles  road  accident  data  based  upon  data received  from  police  department  of  all  States/UTs  for  number  of accidents,  fatalities,  injuries  (Grievous   &  Minor),  road  category-wise (National  Highways,  State  Highways  &  Other  Roads),  cause-wise, impacting vehicle-wise etc. As per the available reports, 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,  fault  of  driver  /  cyclist/  pedestrian  etc.  However,  deaths caused  by  road  condition  on  National  Highways  is  not  separately maintained.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1289 ANSWERED ON 27 TH  JULY, 2023

## ROAD ACCIDENTS

1289. SHRIMATI VANGA GEETHA VISWANATH: DR. SANJEEV KUMAR SINGARI:

SHRIMATI CHINTA ANURADHA:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

As per the data received from police department of all States/UTs, total number of road accidents in the country for the calendar year 2019 to 2021 is given in the table below : -

|   Year |   Number of Road Accidents |
|--------|----------------------------|
|   2019 |                     449002 |
|   2020 |                     366138 |
|   2021 |                     412432 |

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: -

## (1)        Education:

- i.        To  create  effective  public  awareness  about  road  safety, Ministry  undertakes  various  publicity  measures  and  awareness campaigns through social media, electronic media and print media. Further, Ministry administers a scheme to provide financial assistance to various agencies towards 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  Auditor  has  been mandated for technical officers of all road owning agencies under the Ministry up to the level of Superintending Engineer or equivalent.

iv.    To impart driving training, Ministry administers a scheme for setting  up  of  Institutes  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.
- ii.       Road  Safety  Audit  (RSA)  of  all  National  Highways  (NHs)  has been made mandatory through third party auditors/ experts at all stages i.e. design, construction, operation and maintenance etc.
- iii.    High priority is accorded to identification and rectification of black spots /accident spots on NHs.

iv.    Road Safety Officer (RSO) has been designated at each Regional Office of road owning agencies under the Ministry to look after RSA, blackspot rectification and other road safety related works.

- v.       130  stretches  of  NH  have  been  identified  for  developing  as Model Safe Roads under the Ministry.
- vi.    85 project stretches of NH have been identified for developing as Model Safe Construction Zone under the Ministry.
- vii.   Ministry administers the electronic Detailed Accident Report (eDAR)  Project to establish a central repository for reporting, management  and  analysis  of  road  accidents  data  across  the Country.

viii.  Ministry and IRC have issued various codes and guidelines, time to  time,  to  implement  various  road  safety  measures  so  as  to minimize accidents on National Highways.

- ix.   Ministry vide letter dated 20.07.2023 has issued guidelines for the provision of signages on Expressways and National Highways by incorporating  best  practices  and  International  standards  to  offer improved  visibility  and  intuitive  guidance  to  the  drivers.  The guidelines are designed to offer drivers clear and concise guidance, warnings, notices, and regulatory information, facilitating a seamless and safe journey on the roads.

## 2.2    Vehicle engineering:

- i.      Ministry has notified the mandatory provision of an airbag for the  passenger  seated  on  the  front  seat  of  a  vehicle,  next  to  the driver.
- ii.       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
3. 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.

For all M and N category vehicles:

- a. Reverse Parking Alert System

iv.      Ministry  has  mandated  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.
- v.      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.
- vi.    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.
- vii.  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 from 1 st  October, 2023.
- viii. Ministry has prescribed the format in which vehicle manufacturers issue the Road Worthiness Certification for registering motor vehicles.
- ix.   Ministry  administers  a  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.
- x.    Ministry vide Notification GSR 652 (E) dt 23 rd  September 2021 and its amendment vide GSR 797 (E) dt 31 st  October 2022 published the  rules  for  recognition,  regulation,  and  control  of  Automated Testing Stations. These rules define the procedure for fitness testing of  vehicles  through  automated  equipment  and  the  procedure  for grant of fitness certificate by ATSs. These rules came into effect on 25 th  September 2021.
- xi.   Ministry vide Notification  GSR 653 (E) dt 23 rd  September 2021 and  its  amendment  vide  GSR  695  (E)  dt  13 th   September  2022 published the  Motor Vehicles (Registration and Functions of Vehicle Scrapping  Facility)  Rules,  2021  for  establishment  of  Registered Vehicles Scrapping Facility (RVSF). These rules for RVSF prescribe the procedure for setting up and operation of such facilities.

xii.  Ministry has formulated the Vehicle Scrapping Policy based on incentives/dis-incentives and for creating an ecosystem to phase out older, unfit polluting vehicles.

## (3)        Enforcement:

- i.         The  Motor  Vehicles  (Amendment)  Act,  2019  as  stands implemented provides for strict penalties for ensuring compliance and  enhancing  deterrence  for  violation  of  traffic  rules  and  strict enforcement through use of technology.
- ii.    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, closed-circuit television camera,  speed  gun,  body  wearable  camera,  dashboard  camera, Automatic  Number  Plate  Recognition  (ANPR),  weigh  in  machine (WIM)  and  any  such  other  technology  specified  by  the  State Government).

## (4)        Emergency care:

- i. Ministry  has  published  rules  vide  GSR  594(E)  dated  29 th September, 2020 for the protection of Good Samaritan, who in good faith, voluntarily and without expectation of any reward or compensation  renders  emergency  medical  or  nonmedical  care  or assistance at the scene of an accident to the victim or transports such victim to the hospital.
- ii.      Ministry  vide  notification  dated  25th  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.

There is no specific fund for road safety. However, funds allocated to be spent for comprehensive road safety aspects varies from 2.21 % to 15 % of  total  cost  of  the  development  projects  depending  upon  structures involved for construction of National Highways. Further, the States/UTs are  financially  supported  by  this  Ministry  for  conducting  various  road safety related activities like creating awareness and giving publicity on road safety measures, setting up various Driving Training Centres/Institutes, etc.

*****