With India achieving the dubious distinction of having the highest road fatalities globally, the Union Road Transport Ministry has urged the State Governments to help work out a multi-pronged strategy to improve road safety.
The steps include moving over to full digitisation of registration certificates (RC) and driving licences (DL), having higher penalties for traffic offences, and using part of these penalties to up dedicated safety funds. These were discussed in the meeting of National Road Safety Council held here today.
ONLINE DATABASE
Old data on vehicle RC and DL in the country are likely to be digitised over the next five years. This will enable registration agencies to verify DL and RC issued by Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) across the country. This will also help eliminate duplicate and fake DLs and RCs.
HIGHER PENALTIES
Once the database is available online, the Highways Ministry's earlier proposals to increase penalties on second and subsequent offences for drivers can be implemented. However, several proposals towards improving road safety such as higher penalties are expected to be taken care in the Motor Vehicle Amendment Act, 2007, which is yet to be implemented.
SAFETY FUND
Setting up of a Road Safety Fund at the State Government level by pooling 50 per cent of penalties collected toward traffic violations to this fund, is another proposal that the Union Ministry wants to push through.
“I appeal to all the States to set up road safety fund from the money collected by them by way of penalties for violation of traffic laws. My Ministry proposes to provide seed capital to promote the creation of a Road Safety Fund in all States during the next Five Year Plan,” Dr Joshi said.
BAN LIQUOR SHOPS
Also, the Union Ministry has requested State Governments to prevent liquor vendors from setting up shops along the national highways. “Studies indicate that 80 per cent of the road accidents are attributable to the drivers, in one form or the other. The accidents caused by the drivers of heavy vehicles, which are relatively less in number, contribute to a disproportionately larger number of fatalities and casualties,” Dr Joshi said.