People neither have respect nor fear of law: Nitin Gadkari in Lok Sabha on deaths in road accidents

Responding during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, Gadkari said he himself has been a victim of a road accident and is sensitive about the issue.

New Delhi: Expressing concern over increasing road accidents, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said that casualties have been on the rise as people neither have respect nor fear of the law.

"Biggest problem of the society is neither they have respect for the law, nor they have fear of law. There are problems like people don't stop on red signal, don't wear helmets..30,000 people die only because they aren't wearing helmets. I have been a victim myself, my leg has been broken at four places in an accident when I was Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra and I am continuously sensitive about it, "he said during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha.

Pointing out that he himself has been a victim of a road accident and is sensitive about the issue, the Minister said that there are four factors which can help reduce road accidents--road engineering, automobile engineering, enforcement of law and education of people.

"I have no hesitation in accepting this but distressed that despite trying hard there have been 1.68 lakh road accident deaths this year. A large number of these deaths are because there has not been strict implementation of rule of roads...without cooperation from public representatives, media or society, this is not possible. We have increased fines too but people don't follow rules," he said.

Gadkari said a car jumped the traffic signal in front of him on Wednesday. The minister urged the Speaker to keep a separate discussion on this issue and asserted that the government is committed to improving the situation.

On black spots on highways, he said the government has already decided to spend 40,000 crores to rectify that.