As India gears up for the Monsoon Session of Parliament, the Road Safety Network (RSN) has sounded the alarm on urgent reforms needed to strengthen the nation’s road safety framework. The organization is pressing for decisive action in four key areas: enhancing protections for children, improving speed regulation, implementing strong and accountable State Road Safety Action Plans, and introducing strategic amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act (MV Act).
While the 2019 MV Act marked a step forward and various states have since taken reformative measures, road accidents continue to exact a devastating toll claiming over 1.68 lakh lives annually. Alarmingly, children comprise nearly 10% of these fatalities, with a staggering 1.98 lakh child deaths recorded from 2011 to 2022. The RSN urges Parliament to treat road safety not as a peripheral concern but as a national priority requiring urgent and sustained action.
RSN pushes for amending Section 2(11) of the MV Act to regulate informal school transport vehicles like vans and auto-rickshaws, ensuring registration and safety compliance. With 60% of Indian children walking to school, RSN also advocates for Safe School Zones. “Children deserve a safe journey to school. Recognising informal school transport under the law is the first step toward protecting their daily commute,” said Ranjit Gadgil, Programme Director at Parisar, during RSN’s podcast series ‘Brake the Norm’.
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Speeding, responsible for 72% of India’s 1.19 lakh road fatalities in 2022, remains a critical issue. The RSN advocates for a scientific, localised speed zoning approach, particularly near schools, markets, and residential areas. While Section 112 of the MV Act sets broad speed limits, it overlooks local traffic and road conditions. RSN praises West Bengal’s zone-wise speed regulations as a model for national adoption. “Scientific speed management is essential,” said Prof Bhargab Maitra of IIT Kharagpur, an RSN partner.
RSN also calls for robust State Road Safety Action Plans to standardise urban safety measures, aligning with Indian Roads Congress standards to protect pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport users. The 2019 MV Act improved highway design, but urban planning lags. Enforcement, especially for two- and three-wheelers, is weak. RSN urges stronger penalties under Section 183 to curb risky behaviour. “Laws must reflect the needs of vulnerable road users,” said Ashim Sanyal, COO of Consumer VOICE.
Delhi’s 517 road deaths from January to May 2025, down 13.4%, still highlight high pedestrian and two-wheeler fatalities due to poor infrastructure and lax speed enforcement. As National Road Safety Month unfolds, RSN’s push for policy reforms aims to enhance safety nationwide.