New Delhi: The government is aware of the problems people face on roads everyday and it is taking enough measures to bring down trauma mortality.
"Government is aware that trauma mortality is on rise and we are doing our utmost to improve not only the roads through indigenous road engineering but also by making traffic violation laws stricter," Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said while inaugurating the "Trauma 2014" annual international conference on Trauma Care, organized by the JPN Apex Trauma Center AIIMS.
Road safety is one issue that needs special attention as 1.5 lakh people die on Indian roads every year due to road accidents. In 2013, nearly 5 lakh road accidents were reported in which more than 1 lakh people mostly aged between 30 and 44 years lost their lives.
Acknowledging there are loopholes in the current licencing system, Gadkari said that the system of issuing driving licences will be made computerised and centralised to check misuse.
He also talked about creating a fund through the registration of vehicles which will go into the care of the accident victims.
All these are part of the new draft Road Transport and Safety Bill, 2014, which the Ministry plans to introduce in Parliament this session.
Under the new Bill, punishment for jumping red lights, speeding and driving drunk will become more harsh.
The ministry has proposed hiking penalties three-to-50-fold and other stringent action that includes suspension or cancellation of driving licence.
AIIMS doctor and spokesperson, Dr Amit Gupta highlighted Four E's for road safety -- engineering of roads, enforcement of law, education of public and improving the emergency medical services. He said these are the aspects that need to be looked at.
"It has to be a multi-model approach. The crucial time between the accident and getting the victim medical attention can often be the difference between life and death," Gupta said.
The panel members stressed that that there should be dedicated lanes for fast moving vehicles, ambulances, pedestrians and cycle tracks. People also need to be educated about the judicious use of traffic lights.
Director AIIMS, Dr M C Mishra administered pledge to around 150 school children about creating a safe India.
