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Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has underlined the role of technology in improving road safety, enhancing public awareness and strengthening emergency response systems as India continues to record a high number of road accidents and fatalities. Speaking at an event organised by Uber earlier this week, the minister said adherence to traffic rules, coupled with technology-driven interventions, could help reduce road deaths. He outlined the Centre's initiatives, including the Rah-Veer (Good Samaritan) Scheme, nationwide cashless treatment for accident victims and investments in eliminating accident-prone black spots. Uber also announced new safety features and partnerships aimed at improving rider and driver safety.
Technology can play a significant role in improving road safety and increasing public awareness, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said earlier this week, as he called for greater compliance with traffic regulations and highlighted several government initiatives aimed at reducing road fatalities. Speaking at an event organised by Uber, the minister said India continues to face a serious road safety challenge, with nearly 5 lakh road accidents and around 1.80 lakh fatalities reported annually.
Gadkari said that while following traffic rules and wearing seat belts and helmets may appear to be simple measures, they play a crucial role in reducing fatalities resulting from road accidents. He added that technology has the potential to spread awareness more effectively and contribute to making roads safer.
Referring to recent data released by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the minister noted that road accidents in India increased by 1.48% to more than 4.87 lakh in 2024. The report also showed that road accidents claim the lives of around 20 people every hour, while an average of 56 road accidents occur across the country every hour.
Emphasising the importance of prompt medical assistance, Gadkari said every second becomes critical during the 'Golden Hour' following a road accident, when timely intervention can save lives. He said the government's Rah-Veer (Good Samaritan) Scheme has been introduced to encourage citizens to assist accident victims without hesitation during this crucial period.
The minister further noted that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had notified the Good Samaritan Rules in 2020 under Section 134A of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, to protect individuals who voluntarily help accident victims. He said the Rah-Veer Scheme also provides financial recognition to such individuals, with anyone who ensures that an accident victim receives medical attention within the Golden Hour becoming eligible for a reward of INR 25,000 and a Certificate of Appreciation. The recognition can be awarded up to five times annually for repeated acts of assistance.
Gadkari also said the government had introduced a modified nationwide scheme for cashless treatment of road accident victims. Under the programme, eligible victims can receive cashless medical treatment of up to INR 1.5 lakh per accident for a maximum period of seven days from the date of the incident.
Highlighting the Centre's broader strategy on road safety, the minister said the government's approach is based on the four pillars of Education, Engineering, Enforcement and Emergency Care. He added that multiple initiatives have been undertaken under this framework, including an investment of approximately INR 50,000 crore to eliminate accident-prone black spots on highways.
During the event, Uber India and South Asia Head of Safety Operations Sooraj Nair said innovation should continuously evolve to improve safety standards. The company announced the introduction of 'Record My Ride', describing it as an industry-first feature that enables drivers to securely record encrypted in-cab video through the Uber application using their own mobile phones. Uber also announced a partnership with medical logistics provider Dial 4242 to integrate ambulance assistance into its platform. Additionally, the company said its driver application will restrict manual typing while a vehicle is in motion, encouraging drivers to pull over safely before responding to messages.
Source - PTI
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