Drivers must be trained before being issued Licenses: Union minister

‘Road Safety Week’ was launched by Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh at a function in New Delhi this morning in the presence of Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Shipping Shri Nitin Gadkari and Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Harsh Vardhan. Speaking on the occasion Shri Singh called upon all stakeholders to play effective role in ensuring safety on roads.

Expressing concern over about five lakh road accidents in the country every year in which about 1.4 lakh people lose their lives, Shri Singh said that there is a need for proper training of drivers before they are issued driving licenses.

In his address Shri Nitin Gadkari announced a number of measures to address the problem. He said that a website is being launched to help in identifying black spots where accidents take place frequently. The people can send information about such spots to the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways which will further take up the issue with the concerned authorities. He added that the work on ten black spots in Delhi is being taken up immediately. Sh. Gadkari also announced that Rs. 11,000 Crore are being earmarked in the next five years to fix black spots across the country.

Expressing concern over the way driving licenses are issued, Sh. Gadkari said that training schools are being opened and computers will be used for conducting driving tests. He also emphasized use of seat belts and helmets and appealed the people not to use mobile phones while driving. Shri Gadkari added that airbags will be made compulsory in every car.

Shri Gadkari also announced that a Road Safety Authority will be constituted and Road Transport and Safety Bill will be placed shortly before Parliament. He asked people to take a resolve on road safety and bring down road accidents by 50% in next five years.

Speaking on the occasion Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that the issues of road safety and health safety are interlinked. He said that spirit of road safety will have to be inculcated in every child. He also emphasized on a policy on design of speed breakers. Several members of Parliament, Secretary of Road Transport & Highways, Delhi Police Commissioner, cricketer Gautam Gambhir and other senior officials were present on the occasion.

A Road Safety Walk, ‘Walkathon’ was also flagged off by the Ministers from India Gate on the occasion. It had been organized by the Ministry in association with Delhi Police and Society for Indian Automobile Manufactures (SIAM) to create awareness about road safety among general public and to solicit their active participation in the road safety movement.

The Road Safety Week is organized every year to create awareness among general public to improve the safety on road and to give an opportunity to all stakeholders to contribute to the cause of road safety.