Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
azadi ka amrit mahotsav

FOG WARNING SYSTEM AT HIGHWAY

Posted On: 11 DEC 2024 7:35PM by PIB Delhi

As per the report published by the Central Government on Road Accidents in India, 2022, based on data received from States/UTs, total number of road accidents occurred due to foggy and misty weather condition in the country from calendar year 2019 to 2022 is given in the table below :

-

Year

Number of road accidents

2019

33,602

2020*

26,541

2021*

28,934

2022

34,262

* - Covid affected years

As per information received, India Meteorological Department (IMD) has no plans for deployment of advance fog warning system on roads.

However, to improve road safety in the country, the Government has formulated a multi-pronged strategy based on Education, Engineering (both of roads and vehicles), Enforcement and Emergency Care and has taken various initiatives. The provisions/initiatives taken to avoid road accidents due to fog, inter-alia, include: -

    1. Rule 124 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989 provides that all types of lighting and light signalling devices meet the performance requirements as per AIS:010 (Rev.1) as applicable and installation requirements as per AlS:008 (Rev1). Further, the requirements of defrosting and demisting systems, if fitted, to meet the requirements as per AlS:084 (Part 1 & 2).
    1. Rule 125B of the CMVRules, 1989 authorizes the State Governments to notify four-wheeled transport vehicles plying on designated routes or areas in hilly terrains equipped with fog lamps & defrosting and demisting systems.
    2. Rule 189 of the CMVRules, 1989 provides for testing of fog lamps (if fitted) as per AIS-008 or AIS-008 (Rev.1), at the time of fitness of the vehicle.
    3. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued Policy Circular on 03rd January, 2024 for enhancing Safety of Road Users in Foggy Weather.
    4. Installation of Delineators, cat’s eye, retro-reflective tapes, safety signage boards, crash barriers, road markings, etc. along the NHs to avoid road accidents.
    5. Installation of proper lighting in Truck/Bus lay byes, top and underside of grade separated structures and interchange areas on NHs for enhanced visibility.
    6. Road Safety Advocacy Scheme for raising awareness about road safety among the road users.
    7. Road Safety Awareness through print media, social media etc.

 

The Government has implemented a pilot program for providing cashless treatment to victims of road accidents caused by use of motor vehicle in Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Puducherry and Assam. on any category of road, in collaboration with National Health Authority (NHA). Under this scheme, the eligible victims are administered Health Benefit Packages relating to trauma and polytrauma care at empanelled hospitals under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), up to a maximum of Rs. 1.5 lakh for a maximum period of 7 days from date of accident.

Further, as part of incident management, ambulances are deployed by NHAI in their respective service area, to extend assistance in case of any emergency on National Highways.

Apart from above, the Government has also issued rules for protection of Good Samaritans, means a person, who in good faith, voluntarily and without expectation of any reward or compensation renders emergency medical or non-medical care or assistance at the scene of an accident to the victim or transports such victim to the hospital.

This information was given by the The Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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DS/AK

 


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