Why in the news?

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways announced the launch of the "Cashless Treatment" scheme to provide financial assistance to road accident victims.

Key Provisions of the Scheme

• Financial Coverage: Government will cover treatment costs of up to ₹1.5 lakh for seven days, provided the police are informed within 24 hours.
  • Claims raised by hospitals for providing treatment to be reimbursed from the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund.
  • Victims can opt for treatment under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY packages for trauma and polytrauma.
• Eligibility: Applicable to all road accidents involving motor vehicles on any type of road.
• Implementation: The National Health Authority (NHA) will coordinate with police, hospitals, and state health agencies to implement the scheme.
  • e-Detailed Accident Report (eDAR) application will help NHA in implementation of Scheme.

• Ex-Gratia Payment: ₹2 lakh compensation for families of deceased victims in hit-and-run cases.
• Legal mandate: under Section 162 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which emphasizes providing cashless treatment to victims of road accidents involving motor vehicles.

Need for the Scheme

• High Road Accident Fatalities: India records one of the highest numbers of road accident deaths globally.
• Golden Hour Treatment: Ensuring immediate medical attention can save thousands of lives.
• Financial Burden on Victims: High treatment costs often prevent timely medical intervention.
• Enhanced Emergency Response: The scheme integrates technology to streamline accident reporting and hospital coordination.
• Government Commitment: The initiative aligns with India's broader goal of reducing road fatalities by 50% by 2030 under the UN's Decade of Action for Road Safety.

Challenges to Road Safety in India

• High Fatality Rate and Injury Burden: India accounts for 11% of global road fatalities in 2022, making it one of the most dangerous countries for road travel.
• Over-Speeding and Reckless Driving: Over-speeding is the leading cause of road fatalities, with expressways and highways witnessing frequent high-speed crashes.
• Lack of Traffic Law Enforcement: Weak enforcement of traffic laws leads to widespread helmet and seatbelt non-compliance, signal jumping, and drunk driving, increasing accident risks.
• Inadequate Public Transport and Growing Vehicle Population: Rising private vehicle ownership, coupled with inadequate public transport, leads to congestion, pollution, and increased road accident risks.
• Defective Vehicles & Lack of Safety Features: Many vehicles, especially low-cost models, lack essential safety features like airbags and ABS, making them highly unsafe in crashes.
• Weak Post-Crash Response and Emergency Care: Nearly 50% of accident victims die due to delayed medical assistance, as emergency response remains inadequate in many areas.

Recommendation: The Safe System Approach of Global Plan for Road Safety (2021-2030):

The Safe System approach recognizes that human error is inevitable but aims to ensure that road crashes do not result in fatalities or serious injuries. The key components include:

• Multimodal Transport & Land-Use Planning: Encouraging public transport, cycling, and walking to reduce risks.
• Safe Road Infrastructure: Designing roads with safety features like pedestrian crossings, speed limits, and segregated lanes.
• Safe Vehicles: Mandating advanced safety features in all vehicles, including electronic stability control, automatic braking, and crash protection technologies.
• Safe Road Use: Strengthening traffic laws, speed management, and awareness campaigns to prevent speeding, drunk driving, and distracted driving.
• Post-Crash Response: Improving emergency medical services, trauma care, and rehabilitation to minimize fatalities and long-term disabilities.