With around 85,000 road accident deaths every year, the ministry for road transport and highways is considering a proposal to set up a Commissionerate for Safety.

This is based on the recommendations of a committee set up to study its feasibility, which is currently seeking views from various ministries, before sending the proposal for Cabinet approval.

Once set up, the body could play a significant role in enforcing safety norms, especially on highways, as currently there is no organisation that looks into the safety aspects related to highway traffic.

With the ministry working on measures to curb overspeeding on national highways by planning to increase the fine amount for speeding, it may set the groundwork for setting up the safety commissionerate.

The ministry is also planning to introduce variable speed limits for two wheelers, light motor vehicles and heavy vehicles on all types of roads. In addition to this, it may also introduce uniform speed limit norms on national highways that may be applicable across the country.

As of now, all states have different speed limit norms for highways. All these proposals may form part of the safety norms of the commissionerate, sources said.

A committee of experts formed last year was asked to suggest whether there should be a separate commissionerate for safety. It comprised experts from different organisations and disciplines including TERI, IIT (Delhi), various NGOs and trauma experts, who suggested various recommendations, which may be included in the proposed working of the commissionerate.

The commissionerate, apart from the above functions, may also cover aspects like road engineering, provision for trauma care facilities on highways, and maintenance of data related to accidents and casualties on national highways.

The commissionerate may consist of a chairman and three to five members, assisted by a set of directors, sources said.