Supreme Court Mandates Stricter Road Safety Measures Nationwide

The Supreme Court of India has issued new directives to enhance road safety, focusing on the implementation of vehicle location tracking devices and panic buttons in public transport. The court highlighted the lack of lane discipline as a major cause of road accidents and called for stricter enforcement of safety protocols.

The Supreme Court expressed concerns over India’s lack of lane discipline, a key factor in road accidents, while announcing a string of road safety measures. In a landmark ruling, the court directed states and Union territories to ensure the installation of vehicle location tracking devices (VLTDs) and panic buttons in public transport vehicles.

Despite government mandates from 2018, the court noted only 1% compliance in fitting these crucial safety devices. Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan emphasized lane driving as a critical component in reducing accidents and instructed for strict adherence to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules.

Further, the court ordered the refusal of fitness certificates without the necessary safety installations and mandated real-time tracking integration with the Vahan app. It also pressed for compliance with speed governors and set a three-month deadline for establishing a road safety board.