SC to pass order on road safety

The Supreme Court today said it will pass an order on the recommendations of a committee headed by its former judge on road safety which advocates that good samaritans saving lives of road accident victims need not fear harassment by police or other authorities now.
A bench of justices V Gopala Gowda and Arun Mishra took on record the guidelines placed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways which was based on the recommendations of a three member committee headed by former judge K S Radhakrishnan.
The committee, also comprising former Secretary of Road Transport Ministry S Sundar and Nishi Mittal, ex-chief scientist had given 12 major recommendations including setting up of State Road Safety Councils, evolving a protocol for identification of black spots, their removal and monitoring to see the effectiveness of the action taken.

The apex court-appointed committee had also suggested strengthening of enforcement relating to drunken driving, over-speeding, red light jumping and helmet or seat belt laws.
After the hearing, the ministry in a statement said the apex court has agreed for implementation of the guidelines issued by it that except for an eyewitness, a good samaritan who helps an accident victim should not be harassed, binding on states.
The statement said in the absence of any statutory backing, it was proving difficult to enforce these guidelines and therefore the government had approached the apex court to consider issuing these guidelines, through an order binding on all States and Union Territories, until the Union Government enacts a law to this effect.

The apex court had in 2014 appointed a three-member committee to monitor steps taken by the Centre and state governments to ensure road safety.