IRF expresses shock at Sudden demise of Union Minister Gopinath Munde urges Govt to fix black spots in Delhi

“IRF condoles the untimely demise of Union Minister Gopinath Munde as the country has lost a veteran leader who always worked for the common man. But we would also like to draw Government’s attention towards increasing number of fatal road accidents in the country .Annually, at least 1.40 lakh people get killed in road crashes in the country and India accounts for more than 10 per cent of the total road accident fatalities worldwide.” said Mr K.K.Kapila, Chairman, International Road Federation (IRF).

“We urge the government and the various state governments to fix killer accident prone black spots in Delhi as well as other parts of the country . These black spots, which are accident sites, where accidents occur again and again have been identified by the Delhi Traffic police as well as the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). The Aurbindo Road crossing is also one of the identified killer black spots in the capital” said Mr Kapila.

“The fixing of the flaws in about accident 20 black spots identified in capital including ISBT Kashmere Gate, Punjabi Bagh Chowk, Mukarba Chowk, AIIMS, Bilaspur Chowk (GTK), ISBT Anand Vihar, Mahipalpur Chowk, Dhaula Kuan, Rajokri Flyover, Shahadra Flyover, Nigambodh Ghat, Moti Bagh, Wazirabad Chowk, Peera Garhi Chowk, Shastri Park, Brar Square, Nangloi Chowk, Mukundpur Chowk, Burari Chowk and Ghazipur red light.will help reduce capital’s morbid record of losing about 1900 lives per annum “ said MR Kapila.

“We urge the government to make every possible effort to change the road safety culture while establishing clear road safety norms. Global agencies involved in road safety have blamed lack of policies and enforcement as the main reasons behind increasing road fatalities in the country.” Aid Mr Kapila.

India is a 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.

Several measures towards improving road safety including much awaited amendment in the Motor Vehicle Act (MVA), improvements in roads from engineering perspective, road safety audits in all stages of road construction, beginning right from the planning stage, besides identification and remedy of black spots which account for almost 90% of road fatalities in India will help reduce fatal road accidents” added Mr Kapila.

The other suggestions include enforcement of traffic rules and provisions of Motor Vehicle Act 1988 Enforcement of these rules include wearing of helmet, use of reflective tapes by tricks and buses, mandatory fitment of side and rear under run protection in trucks and buses and strict action against over loading of vehicles.