For a safer road, a new road traffic law will be enforced by the government of India

KalimNews, Kalimpong, 23 September 2014: With the help of a web site change.com and SaveLIFE Foundation that forwards petitions to the concerned officials regarding grievances a petition is heard by government of India.

The Transport Minister, Nitin Gadkari, has heard demands for a stronger road traffic law. It is informed that a law has been drafted and will be introduced in the winter session of the Parliament.

This law has everything the petitioners were demanding and will make the roads a lot safer.

Transport Minister, Nitin Gadkari, has been thanked for being so quick and responsive to the petition signed by 2 lakh people.

The petitioners was led by Jyoti Gupta who is a victim of the nuisance. She lost her 3-year-old baby and husband in a road accident. Though her life will never be the same but her tragedy has resulted in something so positive for the entire country, she says.

She adds "we have achieved a huge milestone. Together we can get this new law passed.." She extends her gratitude for support of all the petitioners signed through email including KalimNews.

Here is her story:

I watched my 3 year old daughter, Lineshya, and husband die in front of my eyes. They were right outside our house waiting for the school van when a speeding bus came from the wrong side and dragged them away. Both of them died on the spot.

My whole world turned upside down. I lost everything in just a few minutes.

The driver who killed my family was out on bail within a few hours. I am still in shock and disbelief.

I am not alone. Even Cabinet Minister Gopinath Munde died in a road accident recently. In fact, in the last 10 years alone, more than 1 million people have died in road accidents in India. This needs to change.

That’s why I started this petition along with SaveLIFE Foundation asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure a stronger road safety law and introduce it in Parliament.

The only law governing road safety in India, the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 has not been effective. The amendment proposed to the law in 2012 does not solve the current situation on Indian roads.

We need a new law that includes:

#;Protection for children, pedestrians and cyclists during commute

#;Increased enforcement

#;Mandatory road safety education

#;Transparent and efficient process for getting a license

Road Accidents are killing and injuring people every minute. 20 children under the age of 14 die every day on our roads. 97% of Indian roads do not have proper footpaths.

Getting a driving license in India is as easy as getting a pizza delivered. Pedestrians and cyclists are most affected on the roads but there are no laws to protect them.

We cannot let more people die just because there isn’t an effective law in place. 

She has also invited all to join in asking the Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, to ensure a stronger national road safety law and introduce it in the Parliament.

The letter is as follows:

Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India

Jyoti Gupta watched her 3 year old daughter, Lineshya, and husband die in front of her eyes. They were right outside their house waiting for the school van when a speeding bus came from the wrong side and dragged them away. Both of them died on the spot.

They are not alone. Most of us know someone or the other who has been drastically affected by a road accident. According to statistics published by your Government, every 4 minutes someone dies in India in a road accident. In the past decade more than 11 Lakh people have been killed in road accidents in India, with more than 50% of victims being pedestrians and cyclists, often from low income backgrounds. Like Lineshya, 20 children under the age of 14 die every day in India in road accidents.

At present, there is no comprehensive framework under which Road Safety practices can be implemented. The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 provides an obsolete framework which does not address Road Safety decisively.

Therefore I signed this petition to request you to introduce a comprehensive, all-inclusive national road safety law in the Parliament and pass it.

The comprehensive national road safety law must address the following elements which are largely ignored in the present framework,

1. Statutes for safety of cyclists, pedestrians and other Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs)

2. Statutes for protection of children during commute

3. Robust, scientific and standardized accident investigation and data collection system

4. Stringent punishment for faulty road design and engineering

5. Transparent, centralized and efficient driver’s licensing system

6. Mandatory safe driving training for all

7. Strict regulation of Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMV’s) such as trucks, buses and lorries

8. Stringent punishment for drunk-driving and over-speeding

9. Stringent punishment for violation of helmet and seat-belt laws

Given your Government’s mandate in the recent elections, I hope you will take action on this at the earliest.

Sincerely,

For making appeal interested viewers may browse https://www.change.org/p/ensure-a-stronger-road-safety-law-and-introduce-it-in-parliament-roadsafety?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=145765&alert_id=dXhsQNyCpQ_IgqGxs3VdhX6QWjWmeALsEw%2FUXsuUlG0NkMRlcMks0uCC7tXcxddoCPW6CfU1d26  and watch her call at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNYDa4w7A6s#t=12