Lok Sabha Question No. 1929 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-05
Subject: Black Spots on Roads
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1929 ANSWERED ON 5 TH  MAY,  2016

## BLACK SPOTS ON ROADS

## 1929.       SHRIMATI RAKSHATAI KHADSE:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to take steps to minimise the accidents on National Highways to zero level and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  Government  also  proposes  to  create  awareness  among  the  citizens  about identification of black spots on roads and the safety measures like training and health check up of drivers and educating the general public including the children about the road safety issues, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  use  internet  including  face  book  to  create awareness among authorities about accidents so as to save several lives; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)

(a)   The Government along with other member countries of the United Nations Organization has set a target of reducing road accidents fatalities by 50% by 2020. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has taken following measures to reduce the accidents:-

- i. The Government has approved a National Road Safety Policy.  This Policy outlines various  policy  measures  such  as  promoting  awareness,  establishing  road  safety information data base, encouraging safer road infrastructure including application of intelligent transport, enforcement of safety laws etc.
- ii. The Government has constituted the National Road Safety Council as the apex body to take policy decisions in matters of road safety.
- iii. The Ministry has requested all States/UTs for setting up of State Road Safety Council and District Road Safety Committees, and to hold their meetings regularly.
- iv. The  Ministry  has  formulated  a  multi-pronged  strategy  to  address  the  issue  of  road safety  based  on  4  'E's  viz.  Education,  Engineering  (both  of  roads  and  vehicles), Enforcement and Emergency Care.
- v. Road safety has been made an integral part of road design at planning stage.
- vi. Road Safety Audit of selected stretches of National Highways has been taken up.
- vii. High  priority  has  been  accorded  to  identification  and  rectification  of  black  spots (accident prone spots) on national highways. Around 700 such black spots have been identified for improvement.
- viii. The  threshold  for  four  laning  of  national  highway  has  been  reduced  from  15,000 Passenger Car Units (PCUs) to 10,000 PCUs. About 52,000 Km of stretches of State Highways has been identified for conversion to national highways.
- ix. Setting  up  of  model  driving  training  institutes  in  States  and  refresher  training  to drivers of Heavy Motor Vehicle in the unorganized sector.
- x. Advocacy/Publicity campaign on road safety through the electronic and print media.
- xi. Tightening of safety standards for vehicles like Seat Belts, Power-steering, anti-lock braking system etc.
- xii. Providing  cranes  and  ambulances  to  various  State  Governments  under  the  National Highway Accident Relief Service  Scheme  for  development  on  National  Highways. National Highways Authority of India also provides ambulances at a distance of 50 Km. on each of its completed stretches of National Highways under its Operation & Maintenance contracts.
- xiii. Launch of pilot projects for providing cashless treatment of road accident victims on Gurgaon  -  Jaipur,  Vadodara  -  Mumbai  stretch  of  National  Highways  No.  8  and Ranchi - Rargaon - Mahulia stretch of National Highway No. 33.

(b)  to  (d)    Ministry  of  Road  Transport  &  Highways  has  already  notified  protocol  for identification and rectification of road accident black  spots on National Highways.  Ministry has  a  scheme  viz.  two  days  refresher  training  programme  for  drivers  of  Heavy  Motor Vehicles (HMV) of unorganized sector under which training are imparted to HMV drivers of unorganized sector to inculcate the habit of road safety. This programme also includes the health check up of drivers.

With a view to raise road safety awareness among the general public, the Government have been undertaking various publicity measures such as telecasting road safety video spots on  television,  road  safety  jingles  on  radio,  organizing  Road  Safety  Week,  Seminars, Exhibitions,  printing  of  calendar,  children  activity  books  for  school  children,  posters,  etc., containing  road  safety  messages  for  various  segments  of  road  users.  The  website  of  the Ministry and face book are also being used to spread awareness and road safety issues.

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