Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, during an event on Wednesday, suggested that two-wheeler manufacturers should offer helmets to vehicle purchasers either at a discounted price or at a reasonable rate. Gadkari highlighted that numerous lives are lost each year due to the failure to wear helmets, emphasizing the importance of this safety measure.
He pointed out that in 2022 alone, 50,029 people lost their lives in road accidents in India specifically because they were not wearing helmets at the time of the incident. “I am considering requesting two-wheeler manufacturers to provide helmets at a reasonable discount to those who purchase their vehicles,” Gadkari stated.
He expressed confidence that offering helmets at a reduced cost could significantly contribute to saving lives. His rationale is rooted in the idea that if helmets are more affordable and provided at the point of sale, it will encourage more people to use them regularly, thereby reducing the number of fatalities from road accidents.
Beyond his call for increased helmet use, the Minister also touched upon another critical road safety issue: parking arrangements for school buses. He urged the importance of planning proper parking spaces for school buses, pointing out that the lack of organized parking often leads to chaotic situations that could endanger the safety of school children.
This is yet another area where Gadkari stressed the importance of safety measures to prevent avoidable injuries and fatalities on the roads. Gadkari also referred to the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act of 2019, which imposes substantial penalties for traffic violations. However, he admitted that enforcing these laws remains a significant challenge.
“While the act has introduced stringent penalties, ensuring their effective implementation is still a major hurdle,” he noted, indicating that more needs to be done in terms of enforcement for these laws to truly make an impact on road safety.
The Minister further shared his long-term vision of establishing driving schools in every taluka (administrative division) across India. According to him, improving driving education and skills from the grassroots level is key to reducing traffic accidents and promoting safe driving habits across the country.
The conversation on road safety aligns with findings from a recent report titled “National Strategy for Prevention of Unintentional Injury,” compiled by the Ministry of Health. This report revealed that road accidents are the leading cause of death from unintentional injuries in India, accounting for over 43 percent of such fatalities.
Overspeeding was identified as the primary cause behind these accidents. In total, 4,30,504 deaths were attributed to unintentional injuries in 2022, while 1,70,924 deaths resulted from intentional injuries. Since 2016, both types of fatalities have shown a slight increase, with road traffic accidents standing out as the most significant contributor to unintentional injuries.
