Union Transport Ministry set up National Road Safety Board in India

New Delhi, India (Urban Transport News): The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Govt. of India has constituted the much-awaited National Road Safety Board on 3rd March 2023 in New Delhi. An IITian and a 1985-batch IAS officer U P Singh has been appointed as its first Chairman.

“Today, I approved the constitution of the Board. Retired IAS officer U P Singh has been appointed Board’s chairman,” said Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and highways.

Speaking on road safety and accidents, Gadkari said it was the only area his ministry couldn’t get success in despite its best efforts.  “In India, five lakh accidents are reported in a year in which 1.5 lakh lives are lost and three lakh people injured every year. And 60% of road accident deaths belong to the age group of 18-24 years. This we have not been able to control but are making efforts,” he said.

According to constitution of the Board, it shall be responsible for promoting road safety, innovation and adoption of new technology and for regulating traffic and motor vehicles. The Board shall

• Formulate(a) specific standards for road safety, traffic management and road construction for hilly regions;(b) guidelines for capacity building and development of skills for traffic police, hospital authorities, highway authorities, educational and research organizations and other organizations;(c) guidelines for establishing and operating trauma facilities and para-medical facilities, for consideration by the Central Government.
• provide technical advice and assistance to the Central Government, State Governments and local authorities on road safety and traffic management;
• promote (a) Good Samaritans; (b)good practices in road safety and traffic management; (c)new vehicle technology in the field of vehicular engineering;(d)co-ordination with international organizations; and(e)consistency between international technical standards and domestic technical standards,
• conduct research to improve road safety, traffic management, crash investigation.

In September 2021, the union ministry had notified the constitution of the Board to formulate specific standards for road safety, traffic management, road construction and enhancing skill sets of the traffic police, hospitals and highway officials.