The Supreme Court on Tuesday announced a comprehensive set of directions to improve road safety across India, emphasising pedestrian protection, strict helmet enforcement, and regulation of hazardous driving practices.
A bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan issued the order while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) highlighting the alarming rise in road fatalities and inadequate government response.
According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), India reported 1.72 lakh road accident deaths in 2023, including 35,221 pedestrians—a sharp 7.3% increase from 2022.
Pedestrian Safety and Footpath Audits
The court observed that footpaths and pedestrian zones are often encroached upon or misused, forcing people to walk on roads and face serious risks. It directed all road-owning agencies—municipal bodies and the NHAI—to conduct audits of footpaths and pedestrian crossings in 50 major cities, prioritising high-footfall zones such as markets, transport hubs, schools, and temples.
Audits should also cover zebra crossings, lighting, and the condition of foot overbridges and subways, which the court noted are often unsafe or inaccessible.
Helmet Rules and Enforcement
Expressing concern over two-wheeler deaths, 70% of which occur due to non-compliance with helmet rules, the court ordered all states, UTs, and the NHAI to strictly enforce helmet laws for both riders and pillion passengers. It called for e-enforcement through traffic cameras to ensure compliance.
Curbing Unsafe Driving and Headlight Misuse
The court directed authorities to act against wrong-lane driving, unsafe overtaking, and the misuse of LED headlights, red-blue flashers, and hooters by private vehicles. It asked MoRTH and traffic departments to set maximum brightness and beam limits for headlights and strictly enforce bans on unauthorised lighting and hooters.
Grievance Redressal and Rulemaking
Municipal bodies, state governments, and NHAI must create online platforms for citizens to report issues related to footpaths and crossings, ensuring quick action and review mechanisms.
The court also ordered all states and UTs to frame rules under Sections 138(1A) and 210-D of the Motor Vehicles Act within six months to strengthen road design and pedestrian safety standards.