Now, State GR to protect Good Samaritans from harassment

Now, State GR to protect Good Samaritans from harassment

PUNE: The State government on Wednesday released a notification and asked hospitals, the police and other administrative departments to protect Good Samaritans (people/ bystanders helping accident victims). The government has asked the agencies to implement the rules laid down by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways which were published in May 2015.

As per the notification from Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the Good Samaritans, including witness of a road accident, should be allowed to leave immediately except after furnishing address when the Samaritan rushes an accident victim to hospital. Similarly they should not be asked any questions. 

The notification talks about rewarding Good Samaritans. They will also not be liable for any civil and criminal liability. As per the notification, the Samaritan who informs the police or emergency services by phone about a person lying injured on the road, will not be compelled to reveal his name and personal details on the phone or in person. The hospitals are similarly responsible to not detain them or ask them to deposit money for treatment of a victim.

The rule applies to public and private hospitals which are responsible to implement these guidelines and in case of noncompliance or violation, will be liable for action.

Pune city sees around 1,200 accidents in a year including 400 fatal ones. Thus, there is a  need for Samaritans.  Maharashtra stands fourth with 8.3 per cent share in total number of accidents in the country, after Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. Maharashtra recorded 39,878 accidents in 2016 and 63,805 in 2015. While 12,935 persons were killed in road accidents in Maharashtra in 2016 the number stood at 13,212 in 2015.

AS PER ACCIDENT STATISTICS IN INDIA
- In 2016, the total number of road accidents was 4,80,652 causing injuries to 4,94,624 persons and claiming 1,50,785 lives in the country. This would translate, on an average, into 1,317 accidents and 413 accident deaths on Indian roads every day or 55 accidents and 17 deaths every hour.
- As compared to 2015, the numbers of road accidents and injured victims declined in 2016 by 4.1 per cent and 1.1 per cent respectively. 

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