New Road Safety Campaign by RTO

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways have designed an all purpose National Road Safety Policy for Indian roads. This road safety policy is based on 4 Es which means:

• Education
• Engineering (both of roads and vehicles)
• Enforcement
• Emergency

The National Road Safety policy also established a National Road Safety Council as the supreme council to take all policy decisions on road safety.

Motor Vehicles Act Suitably Amended for This Purpose

The amendments made to the Motor Vehicles Act to increase road safety and curb road accidents were made effective from 1^st September 2019. The important features of the amended Act are:

• Stiffer penalties
• Permitting electronic enforcement
• Improving fitness certification and licensing authorities
• Statutory provisions of protecting good Samaritans
• IT enabled enforcement system
• Reforms of the public transport system
• Treatment of accident victim during golden hour to save precious lives

Ministry Seek States Cooperation

The Ministry has also requested all State governments for correction of ‘black spots’ in highways. The Ministry also granted 10% of Central Road Fund (CRF) to be used for all measures for safety on the roads.

Top Priority to Other Safety Measures

Some other measures have been accorded top priority which was included in the National Road Safety are:

• Road safety audit on selected highways
• Rumble Strips
• Reflective stickers at junctions
• Fixing cautionary signboard
• Providing signage
• Speed restrictions

All States and Union Territories Requested to Follow the Road Safety Measures

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has requested all the State and Union Territory governments to implement the road safety measures to curb road accidents.

Implementation Through Regional Transport Office

All State Governments work through the Regional Transport Office to adopt and implement safety on the roads.

Process of Implementation Is Continuing

The process of implementation of the road safety measures being part of the National Road Safety to curb road accidents is being carried out in various States.

• 22 States have already notified a road safety policy for their States.
• State Road Safety Councils (SRSC) have already been established in all the States.
• 24 States have already drafted an action plan for reducing road accidents.
• Many States have already nominated appropriate agencies like the RTO for dealing with road safety campaign and other connected activities.
• 11 States have already created a Road Safety Fund. Others are in the process of doing so.
• Most States have started Road Safety Audits.
• Traffic calming issues are also being implemented.
• Most States have identified ‘black spots’ on the highways and started their correction.

Regional Transport Office Nodal Agency for Implementing Road Safety

The Regional Transport Office (RTO) authorities of States of India along with State Road Safety Councils are solely entrusted to implement the road safety policy of the State governments.

The Functioning of The Regional Transport Office

The two most important function cut out from the authorities of the RTO are:

• Raising the awareness bar
• Overseeing the strict implementation of the provisions of the Act by the law enforcing agencies

Awareness to Be Elevated by Campaign

The Regional Transport Office authorities have devised various campaigns to elevate the awareness of the people towards road safety.

The authorities take the assistance of the Non Governmental Organizations or NGOs to design various campaigns for awareness of the safety policy adopted to reduce road accidents.

They also approach various school authorities to associate students through marches on the city roads by using paintings and posters for a road safety campaign.

Similarly, enthusiasms of the youths are channelized to exploit the road safety campaign.

Print and Visual Media Plays A Vital Role

Print and visual media are playing a vital role in building public awareness through large scale advertisement campaigns. Short documentaries featuring celebrities are beamed in movie halls and television. Many of these are sponsored by the RTOs.

Internet Likely to Play an Important Role

Near future will see the intensive use of internet digital marketing and direct marketing for a road safety campaign.

Road Safety Week

In India, Road Safety Week is observed from 11^th to 17^th of January every year. Many campaigns are designed and organized to highlight road safety issues to curb road accidents.

People from all walks of life actively participate in the programmes and activities organized by the RTO, NGOs and various schools, colleges and social groups.

These are small steps if implemented correctly hopes to become a leap towards human awareness of road safety.

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