Rest Areas on National Highways Road Safety features and considerations are important part of Indian Roads Congress (IRC) codes and Ministry of Road Transport & Highways guidelines which are followed in design, construction & maintenance of National Highways. Road safety audits are carried out at different stages like feasibility stage, design stage, construction stage and pre opening stage for ensuring safety. Tightening of safety standards for vehicles like seat belts, Power steering, Anti-lock braking system etc., are being stipulated by Ministry for improving safety on roads including National Highways. Model driving training institutes have also been set up in states. National Road Safety Council has been constituted for taking decisions on matters of Road Safety. Similarly states have also set up State Road Safety Councils and District Road Safety Committees. Safety awareness programmes are conducted every year for educating road users. Ministry of Road Transport & Highways had decided to develop wayside amenities including rest area for drivers and road users. Rest area facilities are proposed to be made available under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode for which expression of interest has been invited by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). NHAI has been developing facilities like toilets at toll plazas, rest areas and truck parking locations on National Highways. In addition to above, incident management vehicles such as patrol vehicles, ambulance and crane facilities are provided on highways. This information was given by Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, Shri Pon. Radhakrishnan in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.
