By IANS
New Delhi : With the number of deaths in road accidents touching 95,968 in 2005 from 80,888 in 2001, several measures have been taken to ensure the safety of road users by the Ministry of Highways, Roads and Transport, the parliament was informed Thursday.
The total number of road accidents in 2005 was 439,255 while the number was 405,637 in 2001, Minister of State for Highways, Roads and Transport K.H. Muniyappa told the Rajya Sabha.
He said the safety of road users was primarily the responsibility of state governments, but his ministry had also taken several steps to improve safety on the roads.
Among the measures taken were road markings and road signs, introduction of highway traffic management system, enhancement of discipline among contractors during construction and road safety audits on selected stretches by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
The minister said refresher training for heavy motor vehicle drivers in the unorganised sector had been undertaken. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had also been involved in road safety activities.
The safety standards of vehicles had also been tightened and many national highways had been widened from two lanes to four lanes and from four lanes to six lanes, he said.