New Delhi: The Supreme Court has issued fresh directions to improve road safety across India, focusing mainly on national highways. The court said highways should not become dangerous stretches because of poor planning or weak enforcement. It pointed out that while national highways form only a small part of the country’s total road network, they are responsible for a large share of road accident deaths.
According to a report by ET Auto, the court made it clear that road safety is directly linked to the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution. It said even one preventable death due to issues like illegal parking or unsafe spots shows a failure on the part of the authorities. The bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and Atul S Chandurkar stressed that the government has a duty to ensure safer roads for everyone.
Ban on parking on highways
The court has clearly said that heavy and commercial vehicles should not be stopped or parked on national highways. They can only pull over at proper designated spots like lay-bys. To make sure this is followed, authorities will keep a check using tools like traffic monitoring systems, GPS tracking and e-challans.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, NHAI, police, and transport departments have been told to ensure these rules are followed within 60 days. District officials will also prepare clear plans for regular checks and patrolling.
Action against illegal structures
The court has also taken a strong stand against unauthorised constructions along highways. It has banned any new dhabas or commercial setups within highway limits. Existing illegal structures must be removed within 60 days. The court added that no new licences should be given in these areas without proper approval from authorities like NHAI or PWD. It also asked for a review of all existing licences within 30 days.
Monitoring and safety measures
The court has told districts to quickly set up teams to keep a close watch on highway safety. These teams will include local officials and police, and they’ll be out on the ground checking what’s actually happening. Their focus will be on spots where accidents keep happening, poor lighting, and the issue of trucks being parked randomly along highways.
The court took up the matter on its own after the accidents in Rajasthan and Telangana in November 2025, where 34 people lost their lives. The Centre has now been asked to submit a report within 75 days, and the case will be heard again after two months.