In a move aimed at improving road safety across India, the Supreme Court has directed all States and Union Territories (UTs) to formulate rules within six months to regulate non-motorised vehicles and pedestrian movement in public spaces.
A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan directed all the states and UTs to frame such rules under Sections 138 (1A) and 210D of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
“We direct all the states and UTs to formulate rules under Section 138(1A) of the Motor Vehicles Act within a period of six months, if not already framed, for the purpose of regulating activities and access of non-mechanical propelled vehicles and pedestrians to public places and national highways,” the bench stated.
“We direct all the states and UTs to formulate and notify rules under Section 210D of the Act within a period of six months, if not already framed, for design, construction and maintenance of standards for roads other than national highways,” it said.
The Court also emphasized monitoring the construction and maintenance of roads to ensure safer travel.
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The order comes following a petition filed way back in 2012 by a Coimbatore-based orthopaedic surgeon. The petitioner highlighted the alarming number of road accidents in India and called for a coordinated national effort to reduce fatalities and injuries.
