New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed all states and Union Territories to formulate road safety rules within six months to regulate the movement of pedestrians and non-motorised vehicles in public spaces.
A bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan instructed states and UTs to frame rules under Sections 138(1A) and 210D of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
The court said, “We direct all states and UTs to formulate rules under Section 138(1A) within six months, if not already done, to regulate the activities and access of non-mechanically propelled vehicles and pedestrians in public places and on national highways. Similarly, rules under Section 210D must be formulated and notified within six months for the design, construction, and maintenance standards of roads other than national highways.”
These directions were issued in response to a petition by Coimbatore-based surgeon S Rajaseekaran, who highlighted the high incidence of road accidents in India. The plea also sought intervention from the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to ensure coordinated measures for preventing road accidents.
