NEW DELHI: Minister of Roads, Transport and Highways Nitin Jairam Gadkari while replying to an unstarred question of Bharatiya Janata Pary MP Rajya Sabha Er. Gulam Ali regarding accidents and preventive measures taken in hilly areas of J&K stated that total number of road accidents and fatalities in Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir during the year 2021 were 5452 and 774 respectively.
Er. Gulam Ali sought the reply to his questions including whether there is any law for limiting the number of driving hours a for commercial drivers, if so, whether any technology is used so that commercial vehicle doesn't move after specified hours; number of accidents occurred in the hilly districts of Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and number lives lost; the preventive measures taken for avoiding such accidents; length of roads in U.T. of J&K provided with protective fencing/barriers especially in hilly districts; and the number of length of roads which has no protective barrier?
In reply Minister for Roads, Transport and Highways Nitin Jairam Gadkari stated that Section 25 of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions, Code 2020 (37 of 2020) passed by the Parliament provides hours of work including hours of work of motor transport workers.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways analyses road accident data based on the information received from the Police Department of all States/UTs. As per the information, total number of road accidents and fatalities in Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir during the year 2021 were 5452 and 774 respectively. The Ministry does not collect and compile district wise information on road accidents.
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: -
Education:
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 implements a scheme to provide financial assistance to various agencies for administering Road Safety Advocacy.
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 has been implementing a scheme for setting up of Institute of Driving Training & Research (IDTRs), Regional Driving Training Centres (RDTCs) and Driving Training Centres (DTCs) at state/district level across the Country. Also, Ministry has notified rules for setting up of Accredited Driver Training Centres to provide practical and theory knowledge of safe driving behaviour.
(2) Engineering (both of Roads and vehicles)
2.1. Road engineering:
Road safety has been made an integral part of road design at planning stage. Road Safety Audit (RSA) of all highway projects has been made mandatory at all stages.
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.
High priority to identification and rectification of black spots /accident spots on National Highways.
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.
Five stretches of NH having higher number of accidents/blackspots are being developed as Model Safe Roads under each regional office of all road owning agencies under the Ministry.
Five project stretches under construction are being developed as Model Safe Construction Zones under each regional office of all road owning agencies under the Ministry.
The electronic Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR) Project has been initiated to establish a central repository for reporting, management and analysis of road accidents data across the Country. viii. Ministry and IRC has issued various codes and guidelines, time to time, to implement various road safety measures so as to minimize accidents on National Highways.
2.2 Vehicle engineering:
The Ministry has notified regarding mandatory provision of an airbag for the passenger seated on the front seat of a vehicle, next to the driver.
This 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 to 40kmph.
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:
Reverse Parking Alert System
iv. The 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. This 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.
The 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.
This 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, on and after 26th January 2023.
The Ministry has prescribed the format in which vehicle manufacturers issue the Road Worthiness Certification for registering motor vehicles.
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.
Ministry vide Notifications GSR 652 (E) dated 23rd September, 2021 published the rules for recognition, regulation and control of Automated Testing Stations.
Notification vide GSR 272(E) dated 05th April. 2022, provides for mandatory fitness of vehicles only through an Automated Testing Stations. It mandates the fitness check of Heavy Goods Vehicles/Heavy Passenger Motor Vehicles only through automated testing stations with effect from 01st April 2023 onwards, and for Medium Goods Vehicles/Medium Passenger Motor Vehicles and Light Motor vehicles (Transport) with effect from 01st June 2024 onwards.
Ministry has formulated the Vehicle Scrapping Policy based on incentives/dis-incentives and for creating an ecosystem to phase out older, unfit polluting vehicles.
Ministry has issued advisory to all States/UTs regarding lane driving of vehicles.
(3) Enforcement:
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.
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 29.09.2020 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.
(d) & (e) Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is mandated with the task of constructing and maintaining National Highways in the Country. Total length of National Highways in Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir is 1876 km. The National Highways are designed and constructed as per IRC codes/Manuals.
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