The federal government says as many as 7,36,129 people were killed in road crashes between 2017 and 2021, mainly due to speeding, mobile phone use and drink driving.
Responding to a question from Lok Sabha, Road Transport and Highway Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said, “Based on the analysis of road accident data every year, based on First Information Report (FIR) data (UTs) received from states and Union Territories (UTs), Road traffic fatalities occur due to a variety of reasons such as speeding, use of mobile phones, drunk driving or drinking and drug use, wrong-way or lane indiscipline, running red lights, not using safety equipment such as helmets and seat belts, vehicle condition , weather conditions, road conditions, driver, cyclist and pedestrian fault.”
Figures presented by the minister show the number of road deaths remained above 151,000 in three of the five years to 2021. In 2020 alone, the year of the COVID pandemic, when the lockdown was imposed, that number remained low at 131,714.
Member of Parliament (MP) Kunwar Danish Ali asked about the number of traffic fatalities in the country over the past five years and what steps the government has taken or is taking to detect or prevent traffic accidents. Members of Congress also want to know whether most road crash victims die from a lack of adequate emergency medical services along state highways and other major roads in the country.
In response, Minister Mr Gadkari said the Ministry has developed a multi-pronged strategy to address road safety based on education, engineering (roads and vehicles), law enforcement and urgent care.
“Road safety has become an integral part of road design at the planning stage. Road safety audits for all road projects have been enforced at all stages of design, construction, operation and maintenance. Great emphasis is placed on discovering and rectifying black spots (accident-prone points) On national roads,” he added.
In addition, the minister said an Electronic Detailed Accident Reporting (e-DAR) project has been launched to create a central repository for reporting, management and analysis of road accident data across the country.
provide medical care in case of government accidents.
Mr Gadkari said that in a circular dated February 25, 2022, the Ministry increased the serious injury compensation for hit-and-run car accident victims from Rs 12,500 to Rs 50,000 and death compensation from Rs 25,000 to Rs 2 lakh.
