7 months ago
2
The Supreme Court has directed each States, Union Territories, and road-owning agencies to strictly enforce helmet usage and amended pedestrian information infrastructure, citing the rising fig of roadworthy mishap deaths.
The directions were issued by Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K.V. Viswanathan portion proceeding a nationalist involvement petition filed by orthopaedic surgeon S. Rajasekaran from Coimbatore seeking measures to fortify roadworthy safety.
According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), 1,72,890 radical died successful roadworthy accidents successful 2023, including 35,221 pedestrians and implicit 54,000 two-wheeler riders who were not wearing helmets. The Court identified 5 precedence areas — pedestrian safety, harmless crossings, mandatory helmets, wrong-lane driving, and power of unauthorised and dazzling lights.
Authorities, including the NHAI and municipal bodies, indispensable place accident-prone stretches adjacent schools, hospitals, and markets, and guarantee that footpaths and crossings comply with the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) Guidelines for Pedestrian Safety (IRC 103-2022). Audits indispensable beryllium undertaken successful 50 large cities, and footpath encroachments are to beryllium removed.
The Court directed e-enforcement of helmet laws, with States required to taxable reports connected penalties, fines, and licence suspensions. It besides ordered regularisation of high-intensity headlights, red-blue flashers, and hooters, and sought online grievance systems for complaints connected pedestrian infrastructure.
Officials and contractors tin beryllium held personally liable nether Section 198A of the Motor Vehicles Act for pedestrian deaths caused by mediocre roadworthy plan oregon maintenance.
The Bench directed that advancement reports beryllium submitted wrong 7 months for review.
