Government urged to make road safety rules stringent

NGO Save Life Foundation Friday requested the government to make road safety rules more stringent so that the number of deaths caused by accidents in India can be brought down.

According to the road, transport and highway ministry over 12.2 lakh people have died in road accidents for the past one year in the country.

The NGO aims to reduce the number of road accident deaths through rapid emergency care for injured and has got recommendations for a new bill from 10 state governments, including views from civil society, corporates and experts.

The recommendations have put emphasis on insurance of motor vehicles, strict punishment and penalties for offences, a highway traffic regulation and protection force and a unified driving licence system.

A central highway police force is needed to enforce traffic rules, it said.

"This force will ensure the implementation of the act on the national highway," said Piyush Tewari, founder and CEO, Save Life Foundation.