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Government aims to halve road accident fatalities by 2030, says Union Minister Gadkari

IndiaGovernment aims to halve road accident fatalities by 2030, says Union Minister Gadkari

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, on Tuesday said that the government is committed to prioritizing road safety.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, on Tuesday said that the government is committed to prioritizing road safety. Speaking at the CII National Conclave on Road Safety in Delhi, Gadkari outlined a target of reducing accident deaths by 50% by 2030.

The latest road accident report reveals alarming statistics, with 4.6 lakh road accidents, 1.68 lakh deaths, and 4 lakh serious injuries reported in 2022. Gadkari highlighted the urgency by pointing out that every hour witnesses 53 road accidents and 19 deaths.

Recognizing the severe consequences of accident deaths, impacting families, employers, and the overall economy, Gadkari outlined a 12% increase in road accidents and a 10% rise in accident deaths, resulting in a socio-economic loss of 3.14% to GDP. He revealed that 60% of these fatalities occur in the young age group of 18 to 35 years.

Gadkari stressed the importance of changing social behavior and strengthening the ‘4Es of Road Safety’: Engineering (Road & Vehicle Engineering), Enforcement, Education, and Emergency Medical Service. He called for cooperation from all stakeholders to enhance road safety.

The government has implemented several measures to curb road accidents:

— National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has implemented mitigation measures, including engineering measures such as reinstating missing/damaged road signs and rectifying faded or inadequate pavement markings to tackle reduced visibility due to foggy conditions.

–The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways is actively educating and creating public awareness about road safety through various media channels.

— Mandating speed limiting functions/devices in all transport vehicles (except two-wheelers, three-wheelers, quadricycles, fire tenders, ambulances, and police vehicles).

— The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, imposes strict penalties to ensure compliance and enhance deterrence for traffic rule violations, emphasizing strict enforcement through technology.

— The National Highways Authority of India has provisions for ambulances with paramedical staff/Emergency Medical Technician/Nurse at toll plazas on completed National Highways corridors.

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