This article was first published in https://roadsafetynetwork.in/ , CAG is a part of the Road Safety Network.
Roads are the lifeline of India’s great democracy, enabling unity, opportunity, and the nation’s social and economic progress. Since Independence, highways and city networks have opened up remote regions, linking them to opportunities beyond borders. Going through fields, deserts, mountain passes and busy towns, they are the pathways that carry students, workers and families across landscapes to places with a new language, culture and cuisine, thus making Indian cities pulsate with cosmopolitan energy. Our roads not only support but have been instrumental in uniting our unique nation.
However, this very lifeline has also been the cause of loss of many lives. In 2022, India suffered a shocking 171,100 road crash fatalities – translating to about 20 fatalities every hour. Even more distressing is the fact that our children are dying too. According to the MoRTH 2022 report, 10% of all road crash fatalities in India involve children and adolescents. In 2022 alone, 16,443 deaths were recorded in this demographic. Imagine 45 children losing their lives every day. That’s the equivalent of around 4 cricket teams, being wiped out every single day. Each year, five hundred thousand children suffer non-fatal road crash injuries. These are not just statistics but young, innocent lives lost due to speeding, drunk driving, poor road design, and lax enforcement.
And this is exactly why we are pushing for very specific amendments to the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act 2019. Changes that could save thousands of lives every year. These proposals are not generic; they are evidence-backed fixes to the gaps that currently undermine road safety.
First - Speed Limits
Speed limits in India need a consistent, scientific basis. We call for uniform, data-driven limits based on human injury tolerance, road design, vehicle type, and mixed traffic conditions, using proven models like the IIT Kharagpur framework already implemented in parts of West Bengal. With speeding responsible for nearly 70% of crashes, clear and consistent limits will make enforcement fairer and roads significantly safer.
Second - Penalties for Overspeeding
Speeding penalties must apply to every vehicle category. At present, two- and three-wheelers often escape penalties despite their high share of fatal crashes. We propose including all vehicles under speeding laws and introducing a tiered penalty system so that the faster the speed, the heavier the fine. This is crucial when 44% of road deaths involve people driving or riding a two-wheeler.
Third - Child Safety
Current child safety rules are ambiguous, allowing either a seatbelt or a child restraint system (CRS) for children under 12, with no clear standards. We urge that CRS be made mandatory for all children under the age of 12 years or height shorter than 150 cm, with each meeting Bureau of Indian Standards requirements and properly installed. Seatbelts alone cannot protect young children; age-, height- and weight-appropriate CRS greatly improve crash protection. Separate child helmet rules should apply for two-wheelers. Although Central Motor Vehicles (Second Amendment) Rules (CMVR 2022) mandates helmet usage for children from 9 months of age travelling on two wheelers, there are no specifications for sizes for children's helmets. We ask that this gap is addressed.
Together, these three amendments address the leading causes of crash fatalities and injuries: speed, enforcement gaps, and inadequate child protection. They replace the current rules with clear, enforceable standards. If these demands are met, our roads could transform from risk-ridden journeys into safe rides home.
As India moves toward a century of freedom in 2047, freedom on the road must be redefined as a safe pathway that links every part of our beloved nation. Yes, our roads must reflect our ambitions, our advanced technology, and most importantly the high value that we place on all human lives.
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