The government has tabled the Road Safety Bill, 2083, in the federal parliament, proposing wide-ranging changes to how road accidents are investigated and how victims are protected. The measures include a high-level expert committee to examine the real and scientific causes of accidents, alongside new duties for hospitals and safeguards for people who help injured victims.
The bill aims to ensure investigations look beyond drivers and consider whether systemic or infrastructure weaknesses contributed to a crash. It also proposes compensation from a government fund for victims of hit-and-run crashes and accidents involving uninsured vehicles.
Proposed changes to accident investigations
Under the bill, a high-level expert committee would investigate the causes of road accidents using scientific methods. The proposal is intended to prevent responsibility from being placed solely on drivers when broader system or infrastructure problems may also be involved.
Treatment and compensation for accident victims
The bill would make treating road accident victims a mandatory legal duty for hospitals. It also proposes compensation from a government fund for victims of hit-and-run incidents and accidents involving uninsured vehicles.
The proposed measures include:
- Mandatory hospital treatment for accident victims
- Compensation from a government fund for hit-and-run and uninsured-vehicle victims
- Authority to halt transport on roads considered unsafe or technically deficient
Legal protection for people who help
The bill would grant full legal protection to good samaritans who rescue injured accident victims and transport them to hospital. The protection is intended to support people who step in to help after a crash.
