Frame road rules for pedestrians, non-motorised vehicles: SC

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Tuesday directed all states UTs to frame rules on road safety by regulating the movement of pedestrians and non-motorised vehicles such as cycles, and by monitoring construction and maintenance of roads. A division bench of justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan directed states and UTs to frame such rules within six months under relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act, 1988.

These provisions were inserted in the Act by way of an amendment in August 2019. Section 138(1A) of the Act empowers states to make road safety rules to regulate movement of non-mechanically propelled vehicles and pedestrians in public places. It adds that if such rules are sought to be put in place by states in relation to national highways, the same should be framed in consultation with National Highways Authority of India.

Another provision, Section 210D, says states can make rules for design, construction and maintenance standards for roads other than national highways. The bench passed the direction on a plea filed in 2012 by an orthopaedic surgeon who had raised concerns about the large number of road accidents that occur in India.