Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said in Parliament on Thursday that despite the Centre’s efforts to reduce road accident deaths, deaths have increased due to people’s lack of respect and fear of the law.
Answering a question during the question and answer session in the lower house, the minister said that he was also a victim of road accidents and was sensitive to the issue.
Gadkari said the four factors that help reduce road accidents are road engineering, automobile engineering, law enforcement and public education. ‘The biggest problem in society is neither respect nor fear of the law. There are problems like not stopping at red signals, not wearing helmets… 30 thousand people die just because they don’t wear helmets. I myself have been a victim, my leg was broken in four places in an accident when I was the leader of opposition in Maharashtra,” the minister said.
“I have no hesitation in admitting this but it is sad that 1.68 lakh road accident deaths occurred this year despite many efforts. Due to non-strict enforcement of road rules, such deaths are happening in large numbers… This is not possible without the support of public representatives, media or society. We have also increased the fine but people are not following the rules,” he said.