Road Safety Network Urges Legislative Push for Safer Roads Ahead of Parliament’s Monsoon Session

Ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, the Road Safety Network (RSN) called on policymakers to address four critical gaps in India’s road safety framework: child safety, speed management, stronger State Road Safety Action Plans, and targeted amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act (MV Act).

Building on the progress of the 2019 Motor Vehicles Act and ongoing state-level reforms, road safety remains a critical concern, with over 1.68 lakh lives lost annually in road crashes. In 2022, children made up nearly 10% of these fatalities in 2022. Between 2011 and 2022, road accidents claimed the lives of 1.98 lakh children. Informal modes of school transport—such as vans and auto-rickshaws—play a major role in student mobility yet often operate outside existing regulatory frameworks. RSN is urging the government to amend Section 2(11) of the MV Act to explicitly include informal school transport — such as vans and auto-rickshaws — and ensure their registration and safety oversight. The coalition also recommends coordinated local action through mandated Safe School Zones, especially as 60% of Indian children walk to school.

“Children deserve a safe journey to school. Recognizing informal school transport under the law is the first step toward protecting their daily commute,” said Ranjit Gadgil, Programme Director, Parisar – an RSN partner. Ranjit addressed policy makers during the first episode of RSN’s podcast series Brake the Norm.

Speeding remains another critical factor — responsible for 72% of road crash deaths in 2022, resulting in over 1.19 lakh fatalities. RSN is advocating for a scientific approach to speed zoning, tailored to local environments such as school areas, markets, and residential lanes. While Section 112 sets broad limits, it doesn’t reflect current traffic conditions or road usage. States like West Bengal have introduced zone-wise speed guidelines, which RSN recommends as a national model.

“Scientific speed management is not only a proven solution — it's a necessary one. By tailoring speed limits to local realities, we can make our roads safer for everyone,” said Prof Bhargab Maitra, IIT Kharagpur- an RSN partner.

RSN also called for states to implement robust State Road Safety Action Plans, especially for urban areas often excluded from standardized design practices. Though the 2019 MV Act brought uniformity to highway design, urban road planning must also align with Indian Roads Congress safety standards, ensuring safer infrastructure for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport users. 

“Section 112 must be updated for road-specific speed limits — lower speeds near schools and hospitals, not blanket caps. Section 183 also requires strengthening to explicitly cover two- and three-wheelers under enforcement. Current penalties may not be adequate to deter risky behaviour, particularly among users of these vehicle types. Strengthening enforcement under Section 183 could help. Our laws must match the realities of vulnerable road users,” said Ashim Sanyal, COO, Consumer VOICE.