The Union Ministry of Roads Transport & Highways (MoRTH) is set to implement cashless medical treatment for all accident victims nationwide within the next three to four months, as announced by Anurag Jain, Secretary of MoRTH.
This initiative, part of the amended Motor Vehicle Act 2019, aims to provide timely access to trauma care treatment for road accident victims, aligning with the Supreme Court ruling and the MV Amendment Act.
Jain inaugurated a Three-day 'Global Road Safety Initiative' organised by the Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE) in partnership with MoRTH, Government of India, and in association with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
India, with the highest number of road accident deaths globally, is focusing on a comprehensive strategy based on the 5E's of road safety—Education, Engineering, Enforcement, and Emergency Care. Under road engineering, safety is integral to road design, and the e-Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR) Project has been initiated for nationwide accident data management.
Jain stated, 'The Ministry of Education has agreed to include road safety in school and college curriculums. The multi-pronged strategy also emphasizes enforcement, with measures like ABS brakes, over-speed warning systems, and seat belt reminders.'
The Global Road Safety Initiative gathers around 130 road safety experts from over 27 countries to deliberate and finalize codes to reduce road crash fatalities and injuries in low and middle-income countries. Dr. Rohit Baluja, President of IRTE, highlighted that recommendations from this event would be discussed in the Global Forum for Road Traffic Safety sessions in Geneva from March 2024.
Eminent participants include representatives from the UN Economic Commission for Europe, Global NCAP, NHTSA Department of Transport (DOT), WHO, and officials from Angola and Zimbabwe. The initiative aims to provide crucial guidance for legal instruments within the UNECE's mandate.
Also Read
MoRTH Says Road Accident Down By 8.1% in 2021 Compared To 2019