Sound move to curb road fatalities

Sound move to curb road fatalities

Rajya Sabha should pass needed legal changes.

In 2015, 1.3 million people were killed worldwide in road accidents, of this, 1,46,133 persons were killed in India, and, besides, 5,00,279 were injured. Between 2005 and 2015, the country’s road network grew by 44%, the number of registered motor vehicles grew by 123%, and the number of road accident fatalities grew by 54%. Despite the high toll, lawmakers have been dragging their feet on passing the amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act that focus on concrete measures to improve road safety to tackle this human-made epidemic. Last week, the Lok Sabha passed the amendment Bill for the second time in as many years. Unlike the last time, the Rajya Sabha must not delay the legislation and ensure its passage in the current session of Parliament. It would save, and protect from maiming, many lives.

India has committed to the international goal of halving death and injuries from road accidents by 2020. The amendments, which cover the gamut of behavioural change, regulatory framework and improved assistance for accident victims are a step towards realising this goal. The Bill has instituted penalties for poor road design, construction and maintenance, stiffer penalties for traffic violations, increased use of technology for monitoring and enforcement, compulsory insurance, cashless system for treatment of road accident victims in the crucial golden hour, and Good Samaritan guidelines give legal backing to protection from civil and criminal liability to those who come to the aid of road accident victims. To address the issue of corruption, the Bill proposes use of modern technology for electronic monitoring and enforcement of road safety. This will require significant investment and the central government has to provide funds and technical support to the states. The proposed Road Safety Board to advise the Centre and the states is a good idea, but the board needs authority and autonomy as well.

Ensuring road safety and improved mobility should be an issue on which political parties across the spectrum can come together. The Rajya Sabha needs to look beyond partisan considerations and pass the Bill.