Centre Targets Reduction In Road Accident-Deaths By 50 Per Cent By Year 2030: Gadkari, In Conclave On Road Safety

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, at a recent conclave, highlighted that road safety is a top priority for the government, with a target to reduce accident-deaths by 50 per cent by year 2030.

Addressing the CII National Conclave on ‘Road Safety-Indian Roads@2030: Raising the Bar of Safety,’ Gadkari stated that change in social behaviour is very important along with focus on strengthening ‘4Es of road safety’ — engineering (road and vehicle engineering), enforcement, education and emergency medical service.

Emphasising on cooperation of all stakeholders for enhancing road safety, the Union Minister highlighted that as per the latest report on road accidents (2022), there have been 4.6 lakh road accidents, 1.68 lakh deaths and four lakh serious injuries. He added that every hour there were 53 road accidents and 19 deaths .

There has been an increase in road accidents by 12 per cent, and increase in road accident-deaths by 10 per cent, resulting in socio-economic loss of 3.14 per cent to the gross domestic product (GDP), the Minister explained.

Adding that 60 per cent of deaths are in the younger age groups of 18 to 35 years, the Union Minister also stressed that accident death results in loss of bread-earner in a family, professional loss to employer and overall loss to the economy.

Gadkari highlighted the system of rewards for good traffic behaviour among citizens that has yielded positive results in Nagpur.

Stressing on regular eye check-ups for drivers, the Union Minister asked the organisations to organise free camps for the same, as part of their corporate social responsibility.

Gadkari further explained that education and awareness among schools, colleges, collaboration with NGOs, start-ups, technology providers, IITs, universities, traffic and highway authorities is the way forward for spreading good practices for road safety .