This week marks the 2-year anniversary of the passage of the landmark Motor Vehicles Amendment Act 2019. Recently Mr. Nitin Gadkary, the Minister for Road Transport and Highways, referring to the latest road accident data in the parliament, claimed that road safety has improved in 2020 pointing to the 13% drop in fatalities to an eleven year low of 1.32 lakh. However, it would not be lost even on the Minister that most, if not all of this, can be attributed to the reduction in traffic volumes due to pandemic-induced lockdowns rather than any systemic improvement in road safety.

The arrival of Corona pandemic led to rapid changes in human lives in the past few months. Almost everyone’s life has been radically changed in some ways or the other. The most striking among these changes is undoubtedly seen in people’s habits and practices related to health and cleanliness.

The messages of ‘do’s and don’ts’ are well imbibed on people’s minds - do wash your hands frequently with soap for 20 seconds, make sure to keep your throat moist/hydrated, do not touch your eyes/face with your fingers, and last but not the least, do use a face mask when you step out of the home. There is an unsaid consensus to follow these rules. We see everyone, from young kids to elderly people in their eighties and above, wearing a face mask or covering their faces as has been prescribed. Adopting health seeking habits and wearing a face mask are certainly good habits that show we care for ourselves and for others.

The Government of Maharashtra had constituted District Road Safety Committees under the Chairmanship of District Collector as per the Motor Vehicles Act in May 2015. However, subsequently the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways constituted District Road Safety Committees with senior Member of Parliament as Chairperson, in all districts of the country. It may be noted that no such powers are granted to the Central Government, since District Road Safety Committees can only be legally notified by the State Government as per the Motor Vehicles Act.