Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari today said that the government is taking major steps to reduce the number of road accidents in the country. He said that road audits are being done to find out the cause of accidents, especially on highways. In addition, Ambulance vehicles and their staff are being upgraded with the latest technology to rescue injured people timely from the accident sites. Mr Gadkari said this while addressing the 6th edition of the FICCI Road Safety Awards and Conclave 2024 in New Delhi.

In his address, Mr Gadkari said that five lakh road accidents occur in a year and over one lakh 50 thousand people lose their lives in these accidents in the country. He pointed out that apart from the government’s efforts, road accidents can be reduced through changes in human behaviour. Mr Gadkari added that under the Rules of the Road initiative, several awareness programmes are being conducted in educational institutions.

The Minister urged stakeholders including industry bodies and education institutes to come forward and contribute to the Road Safety Audit. Our correspondent reports that FICCI Road Safety Awards have been given to Industry bodies, government agencies, NGOs, and individuals to recognise their efforts in fostering a safer road environment. The event aims to celebrate and showcase innovative solutions, exemplary practices, and impactful initiatives that have significantly contributed to reducing road accidents, injuries, and fatalities.