Road Accidents on National Highways in Hilly States

The number of road accidents on National Highways particularly in Hilly States throughout the country decreased marginally for the years 2007 and 2008 but again increased during the year 2009. However, the number of road accidents in Himachal Pradesh has shown decreasing trend during the same period. Road accident data is compiled in the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways in a format developed as per the Asia Pacific Road Accident Database (APRAD) project of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific (UNESCAP). In this format, specific NH-wise data of road accidents is not compiled. The safety of road users is primarily the responsibility of the concerned State Governments. However, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has taken certain steps to enhance safety of road users including those in hilly areas. Some of the important steps taken by this Ministry in this regard are indicated below: i. Road safety included as an integral part of road design at planning stage. ii. Various steps to enhance road safety such as road furniture, road markings/road signs, introduction of Highway Traffic Management System using Intelligent Transport System, enhancement of discipline among contractors during construction, road safety audit on selected stretches, have been undertaken by National Highways Authority of India(NHAI). iii. Refresher training to Heavy Motor Vehicle drivers in the unorganized sector is being implemented by the Ministry since 1997-98 under Plan activities. iv. Model Institutes of Driving Training & Research are being set up in the States as a Central Sector Scheme. v. Publicity campaign on road safety awareness is being carried out regularly both through the audio-visual and print media. vi. Tightening of safety standards of vehicles like Seat Belts, Power-steering, rear view Mirror etc. in alignment with Global Technical Regulation. vii. Providing cranes and ambulances to various State Governments/NGOs under National Highway Accident Relief Service Scheme. NHAI also provides ambulances at a distance of 50 Km. on each of its completed stretches of National Highways under its Operation & Maintenance contracts.      viii.   Widening and improvements of National Highways from 2 lanes to 4 lanes and 4 lanes to 6 lanes etc.         ix.   Providing road safety kits to Schools/Transport/Police authorities for better awakening and consciousness of road safety issues.          x.   Celebration of Road Safety week (1st – 7th January) every year across the country involving important stakeholders, to emphasise its importance and publicise various road safety issues. ROAD ACCIDENTS IN HILLY STATES Sl. No. States/UTs Total Number of Road Accidents on National Highways* Total Number of Persons Killed in Road Accidents on National Highways* 2007 2008 2009 2007 2008 2009 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 Andhra Pradesh 13040 12327 11856 4370 4172 4655 2 Arunachal Pradesh 67 101 113 23 28 49 3 Assam 2334 2683 2808 983 1245 1275 4 Bihar 3159 3862 4305 1555 1868 1993 5 Chhattisgarh 3421 4001 4622 790 1002 1093 6 Goa 1398 1593 1467 143 134 125 7 Gujarat 7253 7025 6640 1812 1857 1958 8 Haryana 4042 3990 4086 1765 1775 1800 9 Himachal Pradesh 1947 1080 1066 585 258 324 10 Jammu & Kashmir 2385 2365 2637 404 487 446 11 Jharkhand 1718 1860 1894 746 882 455 12 Karnataka 13310 12949 13893 2921 2838 3147 13 Kerala 11000 9997 9425 1453 1403 1373 14 Madhya Pradesh 10468 10359 10769 1857 1909 2198 15 Maharashtra 13563 13866 12911 3148 3662 3359 16 Manipur 307 292 320 63 81 61 17 Meghalaya 153 186 235 77 73 100 18 Mizoram 23 58 45 12 35 30 19 Nagaland 121 36 37 49 31 28 20 Orissa 3699 3635 4216 1389 1472 1769 21 Punjab 2240 1903 1684 1346 1149 1140 22