SHILLONG: The State Cabinet has approved the Meghalaya State Road Safety Policy to reduce road accidents which are increasing at an alarming rate.
Transport Minister HDR Lyngdoh told reporters after Monday’s cabinet meeting that the policy aims to bring about a significant reduction in accidents and mortality rates, besides reducing the level of deaths and injuries in road accidents to half by 2020.
Under the policy, the State Government will create a road safety fund with an initial corpus of Rs 3 crore to strengthen safety measures.
The policy aims to launch an aggressive awareness campaign on road safety issues and also establish a safety information database under which a state-level system would be established.
Lyngdoh further stated that the government would take steps to ensure that best practices in planning, design and construction of roads are adopted in Meghalaya.
The policy also has various components like safer vehicles, safe drivers and emergency medical response. The government will take measures to ensure that persons involved in road accidents benefit from speedy and effective trauma care and health management.
In addition, the government is also open to the idea of establishing State Road Safety Research and Training Institute in line with the Central Road Safety Research and Training Institute to conduct research activities in the State.
Later, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma also said the government would establish driving schools in every district.
