International Road Federation (IRF) , a Geneva based global body working for safer roads world-wide has expressed grave concern at the increased number of road accident deaths during the year 2014 in the country.
As per latest data released by National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) for the year 2014, road accidents killed over 1.41 lakh people in 2014 crashes, 3% more than the number of fatalities in 2013. The numbers of crashes and of people left injured — at 4.5 lakh and 4.8 lakh — were also at the highest levels since the recording of such data started in India.
As per the NCRB data Delhi accounted for the highest number of accidental deaths 2,200 followed by Chennai 1,046 and Bhopal 1,015.
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| Mr K K Kapila Chairman , IRF |
“India is signatory to the United Nation’s Decade of Action plan for Road Safety across the world which aims to reduce road fatalities by 50% by the year 2020. The Motor Vehicles Act (MVA) Amendment bill needs urgent approval of the Parliament. IRF hopes it will be cleared in the current session of Parliament as Road Safety should be utmost in minds of all political parties “said Mr Kapila .
“Clearing and implementation of new MVA, which has provisions for strict Enforcement with appropriate penalties, accompanied by public awareness of the laws which will be a critical factor in reducing road traffic injuries and deaths. Once the proposed amendment is passed, traffic rule violators will have to cough up hefty penalties – almost 10 times more than what they pay now – for offences such as over speeding and drunken driving. The Bill seeks to raise the compensation for death resulting from a hit and run accident to Rs one lakh and Rs 50,000 for the grievously injured in such incidents,” said Mr Kapila.
“The Indian National Congress (INC) party had included road safety and the commitment to reduce deaths due to road crashes in its political manifesto and had promised a “strong willed political commitment” to reduce fatalities by 50% in the next five years. IRF hopes it will help in getting the amended MVA passed during the current session of Parliament,” said Mr. Kapila.
At 2015, we are in the midst of the ‘’Decade of Action Plan’’ and have a mammoth task of catching up with the target of reducing road fatalities by 50% by 2020. A strong political will, which is beyond party politics and differences of opinion, is the need of the hour. IRF earnestly appeals to all political parties of India to stand united for the cause of road safety and pass the amended MV Act (MVA) in the ongoing session of the Parliament.
Mr. Kapila called upon the Hon’ble Members of Parliament to swiftly act by unanimously passing the MVA and enjoining upon the Government to ensure that India meets its commitment of ‘Decade of Action Plan’.
