New Delhi February 10, 2019 Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is working towards scientifically analysing road accidents and related data in various parts of the country for various road safety engineering initiatives and corrective measures to prevent furture accidents at the same spot.

“At present without proper scientific investigation we do not get the exact data including the exact spot of accident on the roads in various part of the country . Without proper investigation we can't find the exact cause of accidents and can't get a remedy," said Ms Leena Nandan, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) while inaugurating organised a day long seminar on ‘Trauma care-a National mission’ as part of ongoing 'National Road Safety week' 2019 organised by International Road Federation (IRF) ,Geneva based Global road safety body working for better and safer roads world wide along with Union Ministry pf Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) , Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW) and World Health Organsiation (WHO here today.

“Governmnet is also working towards ensuring better coordination among National Highway Authority of India , (NHAI) , road construction companies, state transport authorities, CPWD, transport departments, hospitals , ambulance services , police, PWD, NGO’s municipal bodies for road safety as well as providing better trauma care to the accident victims in the country. At present government and individual bodies are making isolated efforts but it is important to bring them on the same page for making concerted efforts to save precious lives,” Ms Nandan.

“The absence of a co-ordinated trauma service means that two avoidable deaths take place every month while four persons face avoidable, long-term disability. There is a strong need for strengthening trauma care system in the country to ensure early rehabilitation of road accident victims . Alongside generating awareness drive, there is an urgent need to promote actions for ensuring rescue, relief and rehabilitation of the victims with a view to saving the life and reducing the severity of the impact.” Said Ms Leena Nandan,

“It is important to create an enhanced capacity and infuse the knowledge of road safety related actions in public bystanders, road side facilities such as dhabas and amongst commercial truck drivers, who are most often the first on the accident sites and are first responders," Ms Nandan said.

“ AS part of improving road engineering and safety MoRTH has launched a national programme to train civil engineers and road transport professionals in road safety audits. The training is being conducted by the Asian Institute of Transport Development (AITD .Soon Indian Academy of Highway Engineers (Ministry of Road Transport & Highways) will also help in training engineers in road auditing , this will help in audit roads at various atages of construction for road safety” she said.

“There has been a dramatic increase in road accidents across the globe; out of which India ranks among the top with One in every 9deaths due to road accidents, is reported in India. It is seen that road accidents is the No. 1 cause of death among children and young adults in the age groups of 5-29 years. India is signatory to UN decade of action to reduce road fatalities by 50 % by the year 2020. Due to increased death of children in road accidents, there needs to be change in shift of child agenda and the school curriculum should include road safety. WHO is also involved in training program for First Aid and trauma care with MoRTH to bystanders . The help of post crash response can lead to 50 % reduction in fatal road accidents.” said Ms Payden, Dy. Head of WHO Country office

"Given the shortages of ambulances, trained staff, infrastructure, systems and processes for providing emergency response services within the golden hour, the provision of first aid and trauma care to accident victims is often unduly delayed. The results of these delays reflect in higher traffic accident fatality rates, especially in low-income countries. These fatality rates can be reduced if appropriate and prompt first aid and trauma care is provided at the accident site itself" said Mr Kapila, Chairman, International Road Federation (IRF) speaking on the occasion.

’IRF along with the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) a fully owned company of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) had joined hands with Delhji based Jai Prakash Narain Trauma Care Centre of AIIMS has already trained more than 25,000 heavy vehicle drivers under a certification programme on First Aid Trauma Care in various parts of the country starting from the 107 Km long National Highway (NH) 37 Stretch of Dibrugarh-Jorhat Corridor in the State of Assam. “ Mr Kapila Said.

“Deficiencies in trauma services as among factors contributing to the fatalities. Pre-hospital care is absent in many states or is primitive in some states that lack state-of-the-art ambulances, trained manpower and proper organisation," he said.

India lost about 1.47 lakh lives through road accidents in 4.64 lakh roa accidents during the year 2017 , according to figures released by the Union road transport and highways ministry earlier this year. Injuries through road accidents in India also increased to about 470 lakh .The increase in road accidents comes amid growing concerns that significant proportions of victims of road accidents in the country do not receive timely and appropriate medical care and do not even have ambulances for transport to hospitals.”said Mr G Sharan, Chairman, IRF, India Chapter speaking on the occasion.

The other subjects that were discussed during the seminar included Trauma Care Initiatives in India to save lives of road accident victims – challenges in the nationwide implementation, Furthering Trauma Care – the Role of Corporates and Start Ups and Firming up National Emergency Care Action Plan