4.49 lakh road accidents in the year 2019: Center

◾1.51 lakh people lost their lives in road accidents in the country

Despite the decrease in the number of road accidents compared to the year 2018, a total of 4,49,002 road accidents occurred in India in 2019, causing 1,51,113 deaths. This information was given to Parliament on Monday.

In a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said that road accidents are happening due to many reasons like speeding, drunken driving, alcohol consumption, driving on wrong side or lane, indiscipline, motor The fault of the driver of the vehicle, use of mobile phone while driving, etc. In the year 2018, the number of road accidents was 4,67,044 and the number of deaths was recorded at 1,51,417. Gadkari said that his ministry has implemented a scheme to create awareness among road users through electronic media, print media, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) etc., to conduct promotional measures and awareness campaigns on road safety. He said that high priority has been given to identify and fix black spots on National Highways. In a separate reply, he said that the Supreme Court of India has stayed the grant of licenses for the sale of liquor along national and state highways and on the outer edge of national or state highways or within a distance of 500 meters from a service lane along the highway. Instructions have been issued in this regard. He said that as per the orders of the Supreme Court, the Ministry has requested from time to time all the State Governments and Union Territories to take necessary action for implementation of the order(s) of the Hon’ble Supreme Court. Besides this, section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 provides for punishment of imprisonment or fine or both in case of drunken driving, he said. Responding to another question, Gadkari said that in the year 2019, 536 people died and 1,655 were injured in the hit-and-run category in Delhi.