Conduct scientific investigation of road crashes, omit limit on Insurer’s liability in MVA Bill, 2016: CUTS to Par Panel

New Delhi, Nov 11 (KNN) CUTS International, which has been advocating before the Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) on Transport, Tourism and Culture for passage of Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2016 in the winter session itself, today made a presentation before the committee.

In this regard, the Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS) has recommended the PSC for scientific investigation of road crashes and omitting the limit on Insurer’s liability in third party motor accidents in the MVA Bill, 2016’.

Other submissions by the organization include regulating the blood alcohol content for new drivers, setting up motor vehicle accident fund, grant of stage carriage permit, comprehensively address safety of children during commute, mandatory use of child restraint systems and ensuring appropriate headgear for children to protect millions of children.

“Knowing the critical fact that over 13 lakh people have been killed in road accidents in India in the past decade, of which 1.46 lakh people were killed in 2015 alone, this Bill with key provisions will prove to be critical in addressing this epidemic. This is a crucial step of Government of India towards achieving the target to reduce road crash fatalities by 50% by 2020,” CUTS said in a press statement.

The Bill, which was introduced in the Parliament on August 9, 2016, by Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, ambitiously aims to fill the gaps in the road safety legal framework in the country by amending the much older Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (MVA). On August 16, the Bill was referred to this PSC for review and recommendations.

PSC is deliberating upon the MVA, Bill and taking in to account the recommendations given by Group of Ministers, Road Safety Advocates and has invited suggestions from various stakeholders including NGOs.

Apart from its submissions to PSC, CUTS is reaching out to most of the PSC members and parliamentarians to discuss about the potential areas of strengthening the Bill and providing inputs and recommendations accordingly.

CUTS expressed appreciation for the Government’s commitment to introduce strong road safety legislation in the Parliament which is a significant step forward, while also highlighting specific policy gaps that still need to be addressed.

“As road safety advocate, we at CUTS welcome the wide range of consultations to gather comments and suggestions on it. The Bill addresses various crucial safety elements such as improvements in driver licensing system and provisions for electronic enforcement etc but road safety risk factors which are globally recognised, should further be strengthened in the bill,” said George Cheriyan, Director, CUTS International.

“CUTS also urges the standing committee to address these gaps and submit its report at the earliest so that the Bill can be passed by the Parliament in the upcoming winter session itself,” he added. (KNN Bureau)