• The ministry of road transport and highways has notified the constitution of the National Road Safety Board, which will be responsible for promoting road safety, innovation and adoption of new technology, among others.

• India has the world’s highest reported number of annual road crash fatalities. According to the World Health Organisation, road crash fatalities in India account for approximately 11 per cent of the estimated 1.3 million global toll each year. 

• Every year, about 150,000 people lose their lives on India’s roads and more than five times that number are injured or maimed for life.

• The head office of National Road Safety Board shall be in the National Capital Region (NCR) and the board may establish offices at other places in India. 

• It shall consist of the chairman and not less than three, but not exceeding seven members, to be appointed by the central government.

Functions of National Road Safety Board:

It will formulate:

a) specific standards for road safety, traffic management and road construction for hilly regions.

b) Guidelines for capacity building and development of skills for traffic police, hospital authorities, highway authorities, educational and research organisations and other organisations.

c) Guidelines for establishing and operating trauma facilities and para-medical facilities, for consideration by the central government.

The board shall provide technical advice and assistance to the central government, state governments and local authorities on road safety and traffic management.

It will conduct research to improve road safety, traffic management and crash investigation.

The board will promote:

a) Good Samaritans

b) Good practices in road safety and traffic management.

c) New vehicle technology in the field of vehicular engineering.

d) Coordination with international organisations.

e) Consistency between international technical standards and domestic technical standards. 

What is National Road Safety Council?

• National Road Safety Council (NRSC) is the apex body for road safety established under Section 215 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. NRSC was constituted by the ministry of road transport & highways with a gazette notification on August 31, 2015. 

• Its mandate is to advise on matters pertaining to the planning and coordination of policies and standards of safety in the road transport sector. • It also advises on formulating and recommending a road safety programme for implementation by the states’ road safety organisations, among others. 

• The ministry has also requested all states/UTs for setting up of State Road Safety Council and District Road Safety Committees, and to hold their meetings regularly.

National Road Safety Policy

• Road safety is a complex issue of concern, considering its magnitude and gravity and the negative impacts on the economy, public health and the general welfare of the people, particularly those with low income. With rising motorisation at 10 per cent compound growth every year and expanding road network, travel risks and traffic exposure grow at a much faster rate.

• Today, road traffic injuries are one of the leading causes of deaths, disabilities and hospitalisations, with severe socioeconomic costs, across the world.

• The ministry has taken several steps to improve the road safety scenario in the county.

• In 2005, the government constituted a committee under the chairmanship of former secretary S. Sundar to deliberate and make recommendations on creation of a dedicated body on road safety and traffic management. The committee was also subsequently requested to finalise a draft National Road Safety Policy for consideration of the government. The committee while submitting its report in February, 2007 recommended a draft National Road Safety Policy. Based on the recommendations of the Sundar Committee, the Union Cabinet approved National Road Safety Policy on March 15, 2010.

• This policy outlines various policy measures such as promoting awareness, establishing road safety information database, encouraging safer road infrastructure including application of intelligent transport, enforcement of safety laws, etc.

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