List of Road Safety initiatives on National Highways

Road Safety is an integral and indispensable component of every National Highways Project. Road Safety initiatives on National Highways commence with the inception of Detail Project report as road safety audit of all National Highways projects has been made mandatory at all stages i.e. design, construction, operation & maintenance through third party auditors/experts. As per available data, 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.

Besides, Ministry also implements scheme for creation of awareness & publicity among road users and to provide financial support to Department of Transports of States/UTs for setting up of Model Driving Training Institutes/Centres, setting up of Model Inspection & Certification Centres, improving and Strengthening of Public Transport System etc. The details of funds released by the Ministry for these initiatives during the last five Financial Years are as under: –

*Rs.40.00 crore at RE Stage

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 at Annexure – I.

The Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act, 2019 passed by Parliament focuses on road safety and includes, inter-alia, revision in penalties for traffic violations, electronic monitoring and enforcement of road safety, enhanced penalties for juvenile driving, automation of vehicle fitness, recall of defective vehicles, streamlining the third party insurance and payment of increased compensation for hit and run cases, responsibility to comply with standards for road design, construction and maintenance etc. The Amendment has strengthened the Law to improve the road Safety scenario.

Annexure – I

Details of various initiatives taken by the Ministry to address the issue of road safety : –

1. Education:

1. Ministry administers Road Safety Advocacy Scheme to provide financial assistance to various agencies for raising awareness about road safety and for administering road safety programs.
2. Observance of National Road Safety Month/Week every year for spreading awareness and strengthening road safety.
3. 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)

1. Road engineering:

1. 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.
2. High priority is accorded to identification and rectification of black spots /accident spots on NHs.
3. Road Safety Officer (RSO) has been designated at each Regional Office of road owning agencies under the Ministry to look after RSA and other road safety related works.
4. Ministry administers the electronic Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR) Project to establish a central repository for reporting, management and analysis of road accidents data across the Country.
5. Ministry 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.

vi. Provisions have been made in the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 for responsibility of any designated authority, contractor, consultant or concessionaire for the design or construction or maintenance of the safety standards of the road, as prescribed by the Central Government from time to time.

2.2 Vehicle engineering:

Ministry has taken various initiatives to make vehicles safer, including the following:-

1. Mandatory provision of an airbag for the passenger seated on the front seat of a vehicle, next to the driver.
2. 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.
3. Mandatory provisions for fitment of following listed safety technologies: –

For M1 category vehicles:

• Seat Belt Reminder (SBR) for driver and co-driver.
• Manual Override for central locking system
• Over speed warning system.

For all M and N category vehicles:

• Reverse Parking Alert System

4. 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.

5. Mandated speed limiting function/speed limiting device in all transport vehicles, except for two wheelers, three wheelers, quadricycles, fire tenders, ambulances and police vehicles.

6. Published the rules for recognition, regulation and control of Automated Testing Stations, which define the procedure for fitness testing of vehicles through automated equipment and the procedure for grant of fitness certificate by ATSs.

7. Formulated the Vehicle Scrapping Policy based on incentives/dis-incentives and for creating an ecosystem to phase out older, unfit a polluting vehicles.

8. A Scheme to set up one model Inspection & Certification Centre in each State/UT with Central assistance for testing the fitness of vehicles through an automated system.

9. Published rules regarding the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (BNCAP) to introduce the concept of safety rating of passenger cars and empower consumers to take informed decisions.

3. Enforcement:

1. 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.
2. Ministry has issued rules for Electronic Monitoring and Enforcement of Road Safety. The rules specify the detailed provisions for placement of electronic enforcement devices on high risk & high density corridors on National Highways, State Highways and critical junctions in cities with more than one million population.

4. Emergency care:

1. Ministry has for the protection of Good Samaritan, who in good faith, voluntarily and without expectation of any reward or compensation renders emergency medical or non-medical care or assistance at the scene of an accident to the victim or transports such victim to the hospital.
2. Ministry 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).
3. 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.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari in a written reply to the Lok Sabha today.