Lok Sabha Question No. 6 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-20
Subject: Compensation to Road Accident Victims
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Manne Srinivas Reddy, Y. S. Avinash Reddy, Komati Reddy Venkat Reddy

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether accidents are reported on NH/SH/ service roads and if so, the details thereof since 2014 onwards till date, year and road-wise;
- (b) the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  create  awareness among the people for safety and avoid such accidents;
- (c) the funds sanctioned/spent for the said purpose; and
- (d) the details and number of victims identified and compensation paid to such victims and their families and the parameters adopted for releasing of compensation?

## ANSWER

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

(a)     As per the data received from police department of all States/UTs, the total number of road accidents on National Highways (NHs) (including expressways) and State Highways (SHs) in the country from calendar year 2014 to 2021 are tabulated below: -

|   Year |   National Highways |   State Highways |
|--------|---------------------|------------------|
|   2014 |              137903 |           123408 |
|   2015 |              142268 |           120518 |
|   2016 |              142359 |           121655 |
|   2017 |              141466 |           116158 |
|   2018 |              140843 |           117570 |
|   2019 |              137191 |           108976 |
|   2020 |              116496 |            90755 |
|   2021 |              128825 |            96382 |

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6 ANSWERED ON 20 TH  JULY, 2023

## COMPENSATION TO ROAD ACCIDENT VICTIMS

6. SHRI MANNE SRINIVAS REDDY: SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY: SHRI KOMATI REDDY VENKAT REDDY:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

However, Ministry does not collect road accidents data on service roads.

(b) & (c)     Steps being taken by the Ministry for awareness and education about road safety are as under :-

- 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.

A total of Rs. 34.47 Crore has been spent by Ministry under Budget head "Advertising and publicity" in the Financial Year 2022-23.

(d)     Enabling provisions relating to payment of compensation to victims of road accidents and their families have been given in the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 under section 161 (Special provisions as to compensation in case  of  hit  and  run  motor  accident)  and  section  164  (Payment  of compensation in case of death or grievous hurt). Ministry  vide  notification  dated  25 th  February,  2022  has  enhanced compensation to 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).

Further,  Ministry  has  issued  notification  dated  25 th  February,  2022 mandating the procedure for detailed investigation of road accidents, the Detailed Accident Report (DAR) and its reporting, along with timelines for different stakeholders and for faster settlements of claims by the Motor Accident Claim Tribunal (MACT). Claims are filed at Motor Accident Claims Tribunals at State Level. No centralized details with respect to compensation cases is available with the Ministry.

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