Youth Urged to Champion Road Safety as 45% of Fatalities Involve Two-Wheelers: Minister
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, April 9 (NationPress) Road accidents remain a significant public safety issue in India, with approximately 1.8 lakh fatalities reported each year. Out of these, nearly 45 percent involve two-wheelers, as stated by the Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Harsh Malhotra, during a recent event. He urged the youth to become champions of road safety and set a positive example.
While launching the 3rd Edition of the Uttarakhand Adventure Ride, organized by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), Malhotra highlighted the importance of road safety awareness as a crucial part of a wider national effort to promote responsible road behavior.
He acknowledged the transformative leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in enhancing and modernizing India's road infrastructure. Nonetheless, he emphasized that ensuring road safety is a collective responsibility that depends on the actions of citizens.
The Minister pointed out significant advancements in improving road engineering, addressing accident-prone areas, enforcing laws like the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, and bolstering emergency response systems across the nation.
He mentioned initiatives aimed at assisting accident victims, such as the PM RAHAT Scheme and the Rah-Veer Scheme.
Malhotra stressed the necessity of instilling responsible driving habits from a young age to cultivate a lasting culture of road discipline throughout the country.
He commended the PHDCCI for organizing the Uttarakhand Adventure Ride, which successfully integrates adventure tourism with public safety awareness, thereby spreading the vital message of road safety to diverse groups.
He elaborated on the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways’ 4E Strategy—Engineering, Enforcement, Education, and Emergency Care—which forms the foundation of India's road safety policies.
Moreover, he discussed the increasing utilization of technology, including AI-driven traffic monitoring systems, Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), automated enforcement methods, and FASTag-enabled seamless mobility to enhance road safety outcomes.
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