Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Feb 23: India has been awarded the prestigious Prince Michael Decade of Action Road Safety Award for its significant strides in enhancing vehicle safety standards over the past decade. This global recognition, shared with Morocco, highlights India’s commitment to road safety reforms, including the introduction of a new car safety assessment programme and the mandatory adoption of anti-lock braking systems (ABS) in all new two-wheelers.

The award was presented at the 4th Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Marrakech, where leaders from across the world convened to strategize on reducing global road fatalities by 50% by 2030. Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Ajay Tamta, received the award from WHO’s Etienne Krug.

Tamta emphasized the policy shift that began in 2014 after independent crash tests of Indian cars, leading to the introduction of stricter vehicle safety standards. By 2018, the government set a roadmap to align India’s safety norms with European standards by 2023.

Despite progress, road fatalities remain a major concern, particularly for pedestrians and two-wheeler riders. In 2023 alone, India recorded 1.73 lakh road accident deaths, underscoring the urgent need for further reforms.

The Marrakech conference saw global transportation leaders collaborating on a strategic plan to curb road fatalities, reinforcing the collective effort to make roads safer worldwide.