As per data maintained by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), under Voluntary Recall Code of SIAM, the total number, with class/type of vehicles recalled in the country due to safety defects during the last three years and the current year, are as under:-

 

Year	Two wheelers	Passenger cars
FY 2019 - 2020	53,324	1,61,597
FY 2020 - 2021	1,286	3,38,652
FY 2021 - 2022	8,64,557	4,67,311
1st April 2022 - Till 15th July, 2022	1,60,025	25,142
Total	10,79,192	9,92,702

 

As per the data received from police department of all States/UTs, the total number of road accidents that occurred, involving categories of Cars, Taxis, Vans & LMVs in the country during the last four calendar years 2017 to 2020, are given in the following table:-

 

Year	Total Number of Road Accidents involving  Cars, Taxis, Vans & LMVs
2017	113737
2018	113490
2019	92196
2020	60986

Section 110A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 is related to recall of motor vehicles. It empowers the Central Government to direct a manufacturer to recall motor vehicles of a particular type or its variants, if-  

1. a defect in that particular type of motor vehicle may cause harm to the environment or to the driver or occupants of such motor vehicle or other road users; and
2. a defect in that particular type of motor vehicle has been reported to the Central Government by—

 

(i) such percentage of owners, as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify; or (ii) a testing agency; or (iii) any other source.

  

Further, sub-section (6) of Section 110A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 empowers the Central Government to make rules for regulating the recall of motor vehicles, of a particular type or its variants, for any defect which in the opinion of the Central Government, may cause harm to the environment or to the driver or occupants of such motor vehicle or to other road users. Accordingly, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways vide G.S.R. 173(E) dated 11^th March, 2021 has inserted a new rule 127C in Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 which prescribes the procedure for recall of defective motor vehicles and recall notice.

  

On the basis of the data on road accidents from States/UTs, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways published the Annual report titled “Road Accidents in India”.

  

The analysis of data from States/UTs reveals that road accidents are multi-causal and are the result of interplay of various factors which can broadly be categorized into human error, Road condition/environment and vehicular condition.  

          Ministry has formulated a multi-pronged strategy to address the issue of road safety based on Education, Engineering (both of roads and vehicles), Enforcement and Emergency Care. Accordingly, various initiatives have been taken by the Ministry, as detailed below:-

1.           Education:  

1. To create effective public awareness about road safety, the Ministry undertakes various publicity measures and awareness campaigns on road safety through social media, electronic media, and print media. Further, Ministry implements a road safety advocacy scheme to provide financial assistance to various agencies for administering Road Safety Advocacy.
2. Observance of National Road Safety Month/Week every year for spreading awareness and strengthening road safety. iii. A Certification Course for Road Safety Auditors has been commenced in the Indian Academy of Highway Engineers (IAHE).

iv.       To impart driving training, both theoretical and practical, to the existing and aspiring drivers, for setting standards and monitoring driving training and issue of driving licence based on an objective and scientific process of testing skills, Ministry has been implementing a scheme for setting up of Institutes of Driving Training & Research (IDTRs), Regional Driving Training Centres (RDTCs) and Driving Training Centres (DTCs) at district level in aspirational districts and other rural areas of the Country.

2. Engineering (both of Roads and vehicles):

2.1 Road engineering:

1. Road safety has been made an integral part of road design at the planning stage. Road Safety Audit of all highway projects has been made mandatory at all stages i.e. design, construction, operation and maintenance.
2. There is high priority to identification and rectification of black spots (accident prone spots) on National Highways.
3. Ministry has delegated powers to Regional Officers for technical approval of the detailed estimates for rectification of identified Road Accident black spots.
4. Guidelines for pedestrian facilities on National Highways for persons with disabilities have also been issued to all States / UTs.  
5. The electronic Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR) Project has been initiated to establish a central repository for reporting, management and analysis of road accidents data across the country.
6. This Ministry and IRC have issued various codes and guidelines, from time to time, to implement various road safety measures so as to minimize accidents on National Highways.

  

2.2  Vehicle engineering:

1. 1. 1. The Ministry has notified the mandatory provision of an airbag for the passenger seated on the front seat of a vehicle, next to the driver. Furthermore, the Ministry has also proposed that vehicles of category M1, manufactured after 01st October, 2022, shall be fitted with two side/side torso air bags, one each for the persons occupying front row outboard seating positions and two side curtain/tube air bags, one each for the persons occupying outboard seating positions.  

  

1. 1. 2. Ministry has notified the mandatory fitment of following listed safety technologies with effect from 01st July 2019: For M1 category vehicles:

1. 1. 1. Seat Belt Reminder (SBR) for driver and co-driver.
      2. Manual Override for central locking system
      3. Over speed warning system.

For all M and N category vehicles:

1.  Reverse Parking Alert System
   1. 3. This Ministry has proposed that all front facing seats in vehicles of M1 category, manufactured on and after 01st October 2022, be provided with three- point seat belt.

  

1. 1. 4. Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) for certain classes of L [Motor vehicle with less than four wheels , which includes a Quadricycle], M [Motor vehicles with at least four wheels used for carrying passengers] and N [Motor vehicles with at least four wheels used for carrying goods, which may also carry persons in addition to goods, subject to conditions stipulated in BIS standards] categories of motor vehicles.

  

1. 1. 5. This Ministry has mandated type approval of vehicles for protection of occupants in the event of an Offset Frontal Collision, for requirements for behavior of steering mechanism of the vehicle in a Head-on collision, Protection of Occupants in the event of Lateral Collision and for type approval of vehicles with regard to protection of pedestrians and other vulnerable road users in the event of a collision with a motor vehicle.

  

1. 1. 6. Regulations for Bharat New Car Assessment Programme - The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a draft notification dated 24th June 2022, whereby it is proposed to insert a new rule 126E in CMVR (Central Motor Vehicles Rules), 1989 regarding the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (BNCAP).

  

7. The Ministry has mandated speed limiting function/speed limiting device in all transport vehicles, except for two wheelers, three wheelers, quadricycles, fire tenders, ambulances and police vehicles.

  

8. This Ministry has mandated compliance of  fully built buses (with a seating capacity of 22 passengers or above, excluding driver), manufactured on and after 1st April 2019, with the requirements of Fire Detection, Alarm and Suppression system. Further, compliance of type III buses of category M3 and school buses with fire alarm and protection system in occupant compartment has also been mandated.

  

9. The Ministry has prescribed the format in which vehicle manufacturers issue the Road Worthiness Certification for registering motor vehicles.

  

10. The Ministry is implementing a scheme for setting up one model Inspection & Certification Centre in each State/UT with Central assistance for testing the fitness of vehicles through an automated system.

  

11. This Ministry, vide notification dated 15th February, 2022 has prescribed norms related to safety measures for children below four years of age, riding or being carried on a motor cycle. Further, it specifies use of a safety harness, crash helmet and restricts speed to 40kmph.

  

3.            Enforcement:

1. The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 provides for strict penalties for ensuring strict compliance and enhancing deterrence for violation of traffic rules and strict enforcement through use of technology.
2. Guidelines for protection of Good Samaritans and rules as per MV (Amendment) Act, 2019 have been published.

  

3. Notification vide GSR 652 (E) dated 23rd September 2021- provides for recognition, regulation and control of Automated Testing Stations. These rules define the procedure for fitness testing of vehicles through automated equipment and the procedure for grant of fitness certificate by ATSs. These rules came into effect on 25th September 2021.

  

4. Notification vide GSR 272(E) dated 05th April 2022, provides for mandatory fitness of vehicles only through an Automated Testing Station.  It mandates the fitness check of Heavy Goods Vehicles/Heavy Passenger Motor Vehicles only through automated testing stations with effect from 01st April 2023 onwards, and for Medium Goods Vehicles/Medium Passenger Motor Vehicles and Light Motor vehicles (Transport) with effect from 01st June 2024 onwards.

  

5. MoRTH has issued notification G.S.R. 575(E) dated 11th August, 2021 for Electronic Monitoring and Enforcement of Road Safety. The rules specify the detailed provisions for placement of electronic enforcement devices (speed camera, closed-circuit television camera, speed gun, body wearable camera, dashboard camera, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), weigh in machine (WIM) and any such technology).

  

State Governments shall ensure that appropriate electronic enforcement devices are placed at high-risk and high-density corridors on National Highways and State Highways, and at critical junctions at least in major cities with more than one million population (as per data available based on Million Plus Urban Agglomerations or Cities: census of India 2011 or as per the latest census) including the 132 non-attainment cities (under National Clean Air Programme) , and the electronic enforcement device shall be placed in such a manner so as not to cause any obstruction, line -of-sight issues or interruption in traffic flow.

  

4.            Emergency care:

 

1. The National Highways Authority of India has made provision for ambulances with paramedical staff/Emergency       Medical Technician/Nurse at toll plazas on the completed corridors of National Highways.   
2. Ministry has implemented a Scheme for grant of Award to the Good Samaritan who has saved the life of a victim of a fatal accident involving a motor vehicle by administering immediate assistance and rushing to Hospital/Trauma Care Centre within the Golden Hour of the accident to provide medical treatment.

 This information was given by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

 

MJPS

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