Every time we leave our homes, whether to school, work, or the market, there’s a silent hesitation: Will a unchecked speeding vehicle or bad road conditions put us at risk? This underlying worry, in many ways, has become a part of our daily routine but it doesn’t have to be this way.

Growing awareness and important steps—such as the recently concluded UN Road Safety Week, themed  “Making Walking and Cycling Safe, and the landmark Supreme Court ruling affirming the constitutional right of pedestrians to safe pathways—emerge as rays of hope. These are positive moves in the right direction, paving the way for real change.

Before discussing further about how road safety in India can be achieved, let’s look at the data that highlight the urgency of it. In India, on average, over 1,264 road crashes are reported, claiming 462 lives daily, as per MoRTH. Alarmingly, studies suggest that more than 60% of the victims are most vulnerable users especially pedestrians and two-wheeler riders.

So, let’s prioritize those most at risk on the roads, and a way to achieve that is strengthening the road safety laws, central to which is the Motor Vehicles Act.

Meaningful reforms in the existing laws can bring about significant improvements. Here are some 5 recommendations to achieve them:

1.Making road travelling safer for children

It’s a common sight: kids heading to school amidst speeding traffic—exposed to hidden risks like unchecked speeding, missing footpaths, or a single careless misstep that could lead to mishap. Now, imagine a safer, happier walk or drive. Small changes can make a big difference in ensuring safer roads for our children. For instance, Section 194B of the Motor Vehicles Act refers to CRS for all vehicles, which can lead to enforcement challenges, especially since CRS is not suitable for motorcycles. For two-wheelers, child helmets serve as the appropriate safety measure and are already addressed under a different provision. A more practical approach could be to refine Section 194B to focus on vehicle types compatible with CRS, such as cars and not motorcycles. Alongside, it is crucial to promote walking and cycling to school as a habit once again like in the older days, creating safe zones around schools where groups of children can walk, chat and laugh together without fear. This wouldn’t just cut traffic risks but further promote sense of togetherness and add joy to the morning rush.

2.School transport is more than the yellow bus

Most of the times when we think of a school vehicle, the image of a bright yellow bus pops up in our mind. But, if we look around, vans, quadricycles, and even auto-rickshaws are ferrying children to school every day. These vehicles often fall outside formal regulations. If the definition of vehicles for school transport under Section 2(11) is broadened to include them, along with making registration mandatory with local RTOs, it would become possible to ensure they pass the safety checks, making school trips more secure and trustworthy.

3.Inclusive speeding checks promoting safety as shared responsibility

Among everyday sights on Indian roads, a two-wheeler skipping a red light, or an auto-rickshaw rushing to overtake in a crowded lane is common. However, these vehicles often get overlooked during speed checks. While cars face fines and enforcement for unchecked speeding, two-and three-wheelers frequently manage to get away through escape routes. If section 183 of the Act explicitly includes these vehicle types under enforceable, uniform and stringent penalty structures, then it can help ensure that every rider is held equally accountable, and road safety can be promoted as a culture where responsibility is shared by all.

4.Setting speed limits that reflect real-world conditions

Speeding is accounted as the major cause of road crash fatalities, but too often, speed limits in our country follow a one-size-fits-all approach. Think about riding a motorcycle through a crowded market—was the speed limit for that stretch of the road appropriate? A wide-open road and a narrow lane packed with pedestrians, hawkers, or shops might share the same speed cap, but this is neither feasible nor safe. Section 112 of the existing Act can be updated to include real-world, road-specific speed zoning, promoting a smarter system where speed limits change based on road type, environment, and the users. Also, speed limits shouldn’t be limited to just having the rules—they must be enforced and monitored to truly serve their purpose of saving lives and preventing crashes.

5.Urban road standards ensuring equity and safety

A key takeaway from the recent Supreme Court judgement on unobstructed & specially-abled friendly footpaths as right under Article 21 highlights the everyday struggles caused by lack of consistent, well-designed pedestrian and cycling infrastructure as many roads fall short of providing basic safety. In 2019 amendments in the  Act, following Indian Road Congress (IRC) standards was made mandatory, including guidelines on road design. As a result, the highways are built following uniform standards. But urban roads don’t have such standards, particularly in terms of equal distribution of road spaces for road users and their safety. Adopting unified standards in road design, prioritizing equity and safety can transform roads into spaces where users are safer.

Road safety is not just about rules but about valuing every life on the road. Strong laws, effective enforcement can build safer streets where children walk to school without fear, cyclists ride with confidence, and pedestrians reclaim their rightful place.

Acknowledging Key Contributions:
Rinki Sharma, Lead – Projects, Consumer VOICE
Ar. Aditya Chawande, Urban Designer, Programme Associate, Parisar
Janani Ilamparithi, Communications Strategist, Parisar