{"id":166979,"date":"2025-05-24T21:14:25","date_gmt":"2025-05-24T15:44:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&p=166979"},"modified":"2025-05-24T21:14:25","modified_gmt":"2025-05-24T15:44:25","slug":"national-road-safety-board","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/national-road-safety-board","title":{"rendered":"S.C Directs for National Road Safety Board"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recently, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to constitute the National Road Safety Board under<\/span><b> Section 215B<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the<\/span><b> Motor Vehicles Act.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Supreme Court Directive<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Timeline Mandate: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Court gave the Governmen<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">t six months to constitute the Board, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">refusing the Centre\u2019s request for nine months.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.4991%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\">\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 16pt; color: #000000;\"><b>Notification for National Road Safety Board Rules, 2021<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Issued by<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> : The<\/span><b> Ministry of Road Transport &#038; Highways<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Composition: Chairman + 3 to 7 Members,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> appointed by the<\/span><b> Central Government.<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>HQ in Delhi\u00a0 NCR<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">with <\/span><b>provision for regional offices.<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Functions:<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Frame safety and construction standards, especially for hilly terrains.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Promote Good Samaritans, new vehicular technologies, and align domestic and international standards.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Conduct research, crash investigations, and advise on trauma and para-medical facilities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Pending Implementation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Court noted that the Board exists only on paper without appointment of Chairperson and Members.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Legal Provision:<\/b> <b>Section 215B <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0of<\/span><b>\u00a0 Motor Vehicles Act, 1988,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> mandates a <\/span><b>National Road Safety Board<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to <\/span><b>advise governments on traffic and safety standards.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Challenges to Road Safety in India<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>High Fatality Rate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: India records over <\/span><b>1.5 lakh deaths annually<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> due to road accidents which is\u00a0 <\/span><b>highest in the world<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Poor Emergency Response<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Lack of <\/span><b>swift trauma care<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, emergency transport, and <\/span><b>inter-agency coordination<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> results in preventable fatalities.<\/span><b>Neglected Infrastructure &#038; Education<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Inadequate <\/span><b>driver training<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, poor road design, and weak enforcement increase vulnerability on roads.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Implementation Gap<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Despite several legal provisions, <\/span><b>on-ground implementation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of road safety measures remains <\/span><b>inconsistent and weak<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Lack of Coordination<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: There is limited collaboration between key stakeholders such as <\/span><b>traffic police, hospitals, road agencies<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and local governments.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Skewed Priorities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Focus on road expansion often <\/span><b>overlooks safety measures<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> like crash barriers, signages, and pedestrian facilities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Inadequate Capacity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Shortage of <\/span><b>trained personnel<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, including traffic enforcers and trauma care providers, along with low <\/span><b>public awareness<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.698%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\">\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\"><b>Recommendation Of Sundar Committee (2010)<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Apex National Body<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The Committee recommended the creation of a <\/span><b>National Road Safety &#038; Traffic Management Board<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> through an <\/span><b>Act of Parliament as an apex advisory body<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> comprising experts from road engineering, traffic law, medical care, and automobile engineering.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>State-Level Institutions:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It proposed establishing<\/span><b> State Road Safety &#038; Traffic Management Boards<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in all states and union territories to mirror the functions of the national board and coordinate road safety efforts at the local level.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>National Road Safety Plan: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Committee advocated formulating a National Road Safety Plan with measurable targets and strategies to reduce accidents and improve traffic management.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Trauma and Data Management: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It called for strengthening <\/span><b>post-accident care and trauma services<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and setting up a <\/span><b>national road accident database<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with standardized data collection, analysis, and dissemination protocols.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Dedicated Road Safety Fund: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To ensure financial support, the Committee <\/span><b>suggested earmarking 1% of cess on diesel and petrol<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> towards a Road Safety Fund.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Other Issues:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The report also emphasized <\/span><b>decriminalization of road accidents,<\/b> <b>strengthening insurance mechanisms<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and forming a<\/span><b> dedicated highway police force.<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These recommendations led to the adoption of the <\/span><b>National Road Safety Policy in 2010<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>India: Road Safety Initiatives<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>National Road Safety Policy (2010):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Provides a framework for improving road safety through awareness, enforcement, and technology.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Introduces stricter penalties, vehicle fitness norms, and provisions for protection of Good Samaritans.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD):\u00a0 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A centralised database for collecting and analysing road crash data for informed policy-making.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sachet Bharat Programme:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Focuses on driver education and behavioural change to reduce road accidents.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sundar Committee Recommendations:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Advocated for national and state-level boards, trauma care systems, and earmarked funds for road safety.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Good Samaritan Guidelines: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Legally protect bystanders who help accident victims from legal or procedural harassment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Highway Patrol &#038; Emergency Services<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Establishes highway patrol units and ambulance networks under NHAI and state governments.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Global: Road Safety Initiatives<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>UN Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021\u20132030)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Aims to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by 50% through coordinated global efforts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Stockholm Declaration (2020): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recognizes road safety as essential to sustainable development and calls for Safe System approaches.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety (2015):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Encourages adoption of safer road infrastructure, vehicle standards, and enforcement mechanisms.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>WHO Global Status Report on Road Safety<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Provides comprehensive global data and policy guidance on reducing road traffic injuries.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Vision Zero (Sweden): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A long-term strategy aiming for zero road fatalities through systemic infrastructure and behavioral reform.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Way Forward<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Immediate Constitution<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Enforce SC order and operationalize the Board with competent experts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Institutional Strengthening: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provide the Board statutory backing, funding, and functional independence.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Integrated Road Safety Policy:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Synchronize central, state, and local efforts via digital and on-ground platforms.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Awareness and use of Technology:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Intensify public awareness and integrate AI, sensors, and ITS for real-time road management.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.6375%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 111.19%; 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