Union Minister Nitin Gadkari recently announced the upcoming release of a road safety song, composed by the acclaimed Shankar Mahadevan, in an impressive 22 languages. This initiative aims to significantly boost public awareness regarding road safety across the nation. The announcement was made during the Yatra Kavach road safety event.
Gadkari emphasized the importance of leveraging the song's reach by encouraging widespread circulation on social media platforms. This strategy aligns with the government's broader efforts to reduce the alarmingly high number of road accidents and fatalities in India.
India faces a grim reality when it comes to road safety, with approximately 480,000 road accidents occurring annually, leading to around 180,000 deaths. These accidents account for a staggering loss of 3% of the nation's GDP. The government has been actively working to mitigate these numbers through various measures, including improving road infrastructure, enhancing vehicle safety standards, and promoting road safety education.
In line with these efforts, the government has already introduced road safety as part of the school curriculum for students in classes 1 to 12, with the modules being implemented in the current academic year. Furthermore, Gadkari's ministry is also considering legislation to regulate the working hours of truck drivers, who currently often work long shifts of 13-14 hours a day. To address the shortage of truck drivers, plans are underway to establish 32 state-of-the-art driving training institutes across the country.
Moreover, Gadkari highlighted the introduction of a safety rating system for trucks and heavy vehicles, mirroring the Bharat NCAP (New Car Assessment Program). This initiative aims to encourage manufacturers to improve the safety and build quality of commercial vehicles. Air conditioning in truck driver cabins has also been mandated, alongside the implementation of Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) to further aid drivers.
The two-day workshop on Vehicle and Fleet Safety, jointly organized by the Global New Car Assessment Program (GNCAP) and the Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE), underscored the urgency of addressing road safety concerns. Gadkari made remarks during the inauguration of this workshop. During the workshop, Dr. Rohit Baluja, President of IRTE, mentioned that the workshop reviewed the progress in vehicle safety since 2000 and the actions needed to achieve improvements by 2030 and beyond.
In addition to these measures, the government is also focusing on improving the safety of e-rickshaws by setting standards and a safety assessment system for them. Gadkari believes that enhancing the safety of e-rickshaws will not only improve their quality but also create more employment opportunities.
Gadkari has urged the public to wear seatbelts in cars, emphasizing the importance of individual responsibility in ensuring road safety. The collective effort of the government, organizations, and individuals is crucial in making Indian roads safer for everyone.
