Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, reiterated the government’s commitment to prioritize road safety during his address at the CII National Conclave on ‘Road Safety – Indian Roads@2030 – Raising the Bar of Safety.’ With an ambitious target to reduce accident deaths by 50% by 2030, Gadkari emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach, focusing on societal change and strengthening the ‘4Es of Road Safety.’
The ‘4Es of Road Safety’ encompass Engineering, referring to improvements in road and vehicle engineering; Enforcement, ensuring adherence to traffic rules; Education, promoting awareness and understanding among the public; and Emergency Medical Service, facilitating prompt medical assistance in case of accidents.
Highlighting the urgency of the matter, Nitin Gadkari revealed the alarming statistics from the latest Report on Road Accidents 2022, indicating 4.6 lakh road accidents, 1.68 lakh deaths, and 4 lakh serious injuries. With an average of 53 road accidents and 19 deaths every hour, there has been a concerning 12% increase in road accidents and a 10% rise in fatalities. Gadkari stressed that this has led to a socio-economic loss of 3.14% to the GDP, with 60% of deaths occurring in the young age group of 18 to 35 years.
Nitin Gadkari highlighted the multifaceted impact of road accidents, emphasizing that it is not only a loss to families but also results in professional setbacks for employers and poses an overall detriment to the economy.
The Union Minister advocated for innovative measures, such as a rewards system for good traffic behavior, citing positive outcomes in Nagpur. He also underscored the importance of regular eye check-ups for drivers and urged organizations to conduct free eye check-up camps as part of their corporate social responsibility.
In terms of future strategies, Nitin Gadkari emphasized the role of education and awareness campaigns in collaboration with schools, colleges, NGOs, start-ups, technology providers, IITs, universities, and traffic and highway authorities. The collective effort of all stakeholders, he concluded, is essential to instill and promote good practices for road safety in the country.
