As per the data received from Police Department of all States/UTs, total number of road accidents on National Highways (NHs) and State Highways (SHs) in the country from the calendar year 2017 to 2021 are given in the table below: –

YearNo. of accidents on NHsNo. of accidents on SHs
2017141466116158
2018140843117570
2019137191108976
202011649690755
202112882596382

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways is primarily responsible for development and maintenance of National Highways (NHs). Traffic density on any NH depends upon the location, urbanization, industrialization etc., varies along its route. In hilly and border areas, it is as low as less than 1000 Passenger Car Unit (PCU) and in heavily traffic NHs, it is even more than 1,00,000 PCU.

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:
  1. 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.
  2. Observance of National Road Safety Month/Week every year for spreading awareness and strengthening road safety.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  1. Engineering (both of Roads and vehicles)
  2. Road engineering:
  1. Road safety has been made an integral part of road design at planning stage.
  2. 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.
  3. High priority is accorded to identification and rectification of black spots /accident spots on NHs.
  4. 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.
  5. 130 stretches of NH have been identified for developing as Model Safe Roads under the Ministry.
  6. 85 project stretches of NH have been identified for developing as Model Safe Construction Zone under the Ministry.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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:

  1. Ministry has notified the mandatory provision of an airbag for the passenger seated on the front seat of a vehicle, next to the driver.
  2. 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.
  3. 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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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 1st October, 2023.
  5. Ministry has prescribed the format in which vehicle manufacturers issue the Road Worthiness Certification for registering motor vehicles.
  6. 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.
  7. Ministry vide Notification GSR 652 (E) dt 23rd September 2021 and its amendment vide GSR 797 (E) dt 31st 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 25th September 2021.
  8. Ministry vide Notification GSR 653 (E) dt 23rd September 2021 and its amendment vide GSR 695 (E) dt 13th 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.
  9. Ministry has formulated the Vehicle Scrapping Policy based on incentives/dis-incentives and for creating an ecosystem to phase out older, unfit polluting vehicles.
  10. 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 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).
  3. Emergency care:

i. Ministry has published rules vide GSR 594(E) dated 29th 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.

The details of funds utilized by the Ministry for various Road Transport and Road Safety schemes under Major Head 3055- Road Transport and Major Head 5055-Capital Outlay on Road Transport during the last five FYs are as under: –

(Rs. in crore)
Sl. No.Activity/ ProgrammeFY2018-19FY2019-20FY2020-21FY2021-22FY2022-23
1Road Safety publicity measures and awareness campaigns, NHARSS, refresher Training of Drivers in Unorganised Sector and Human Resource Development, etc.91.0946.2765.9441.4868.67
2National Data Base Network47.0277.4552.2681.1061.68
3Inspection and Maintenance Centres20.2515.3816.2014.1514.60
4Improving and Strengthening of Public Transport System0.291.4015.6110.8030.33

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

RELATED STORIESMORE FROM AUTHOR