National Road Safety Board

In news

Recently, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has released the draft National Road Safety Board Rules, 2020 under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988

Key highlights of the rules

The draft Rules establish the National Road Safety Board proposed in the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act, 2019. Following are the draft rules announced by the Ministry:

Composition of the Board

As per the draft rules the board will consists of

The Chairman
Three to seven members appointed by the central government, and
The Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways or his representative (ex-officio member)

The Chairman and members must have at least 20 years of experience in fields of automobile, road safety, urban planning, or law, among others

Term: The Chairman and members will have a term of three years and are eligible for re-appointment for one more term.

Meeting of the Board: The Board is required to meet at least once every month

Functions of the board

Following are the functions of the board

Licensing and registration of motor vehicles
Regulating billboards and commercial signage
Formulating guidelines on standards for safety equipment, road infrastructure, control of traffic, establishing and operating trauma facilities and para-medical facilities

Technical working groups under the Board

The Board can constitute Technical Working Groups consisting of a Chairman and independent technical experts with experience in the field of work. These Groups may deliberate on matters including:

Transport safety and road standards
Traffic management
Crash investigations, and
Motor vehicle, fuel and noise standards

A brief note on the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act, 2019

This act amended the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 to provide for road safety.
It provides Compensation for Road accident victims and it increases the minimum compensation for hit and run cases as follows: (i) in case of death, from Rs 25,000 to two lakh rupees, and (ii) in case of grievous injury, from Rs 12,500 to Rs 50,000.
It defines golden hour as the time period of up to one hour following a traumatic injury, during which the likelihood of preventing death through prompt medical care is the highest.
It inserts new section 134A on Good Samaritans, which states that a Good Samaritan shall not be liable for any civil or criminal action for any injury to or death of the victim of an accident involving a motor vehicle, where such injury or death resulted from the Good Samaritan’s negligence in acting or failing to act while rendering emergency medical or non-medical care or assistance.

Source: PRS India

Tags: Prelims