Govt working to reduce road accidents by 50 per cent before 2024: Nitin Gadkari
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that his target is to reduce the number of road accidents by 50 per cent before 2024 and efforts are being made to improve the quality of roads. While addressing a virtual event organised by Ficci, he lamented that cooperation from insurance companies concerning road safety activities is negligible and there is a shortage of 22 lakh drivers. So, the Government aims to set up 2,00 driving schools, especially in backward districts and working towards improving the quality of the road. He also emphasized and said that 50 per cent of road accidents are due to road engineering problems.
According to the PTI report, it said that noting that road safety is a public health issue across the world, Gadkari said that his Ministry is making an intelligent traffic system. Besides, there are plans to set up an Independent Road Safety Council that will be headed by a retired IAS officer. adding that he said that "Insurance companies are direct beneficiaries of a saved life, Hence, they can extend their cooperation for various road safety activities…. But the corporation from the insurance company is very negligible, and cooperation from the Government insurance company is zero."
Further, he said that Intel has approached him with innovative solutions to avoid collision between vehicles and safe driving measures. We are planning to start the pilot project of this technology very soon. He mentioned that the Ministry is Starving hard to reduce road accidents deaths by restructuring and strengthening four E's of road safety-- Engineering, Economy, Enforcement and Education. "
According to reports by the road and transport and Highway Minister around 1.5 Lakh people die due to road accidents every year. The minister added," My internal target is before 2024. We will reduce deaths and accidents by 50 per cent.
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