Supreme Court Issues Directions To Enforce Helmet Use, Curb Wrong-Lane Driving & Use Of Dazzling Headlights

The Supreme Court on Monday (October 7) issued a slew of significant directions aimed at strengthening road safety measures across the country. In a writ petition filed in 2012 by Dr. S. Rajaseekaran, a leading orthopaedic surgeon, the Court directed strict enforcement of helmet use, and measures to curb wrong-lane driving, unsafe overtaking, use of dazzling LED lights, and the unauthorised sale and misuse of red–blue strobe lights and hooters.

The Court further ordered that the complete ban on unauthorised red–blue flashing lights and illegal hooters must be implemented through seizures, market crackdowns, and imposition of penalties.

These directions have been issued by a bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice KV Viswanathan, considering the recent official figures of the Government of India, which show that more than 35,000 pedestrians were killed in road accidents in 2023, and more than 54,000 riders/passengers of two-wheelers died due to non-wearing of helmets.

This is the statistics published in 'Road Accidents in India 2023' by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), which indicates that 1,72,890 deaths have taken place in road accidents in India in 2023, and there continues to be an increase in numbers. 

The Court has asked the Registry to place this matter after a period of seven months for compliance. 

The following directions have been issued:

Relating to wearing helmets

We direct all the State Governments, UTs and the NHAI to strictly implement the provisions of law relating to wearing helmets by two-wheeler drivers and passengers using two-wheelers. Strict enforcement of these rules should be ensured inter alia through e-enforcement mechanism i.e. cameras installed at various places. The mechanism available for the enforcement of the aforesaid violation shall be brought to the notice of this Court.

The number of persons penalized and the amounts recovered by challans and the licenses suspended shall also be informed to this Court. 

Relating to unlawful and wrongful lane driving

State transport departments, traffic police authorities, and urban local bodies shall take measures to enforce lane discipline by addressing unlawful or wrong-lane driving, including the use of automated cameras, graduated fines, coloured and textured lane markings (e.g., for bus and cycle lanes), dynamic lighting, rumble strips, and tyre killers at critical conflict points.

The development and publication of real-time dashboards on lane violations may also be explored to build public awareness, enhance compliance, and improve overall road safety.

Relating to white LED dazzling lights, red-blue strobe lights and unauthorised hooters

The MoRTH, State Transport Departments, and traffic police authorities shall prescribe maximum permissible luminance and beam angles for vehicle headlights and ensure compliance through checks during PUC testing and vehicle fitness certification, while conducting targeted drives to penalize non-compliant or modified headlights.

A complete ban on unauthorised red–blue strobe flashing lights and illegal hooters shall be enforced through seizure, market crackdowns, and penalties. Simultaneously, nationwide public awareness campaigns by MoRTH, state transport departments, and traffic police shall be conducted to sensitize drivers and pedestrians about the hazards posed by dazzling headlights, unauthorized strobe lights, and illegal hooters, thereby enhancing overall road safety.

Also from the judgment - Supreme Court Directs States/UTs To Frame Rules Under Motor Vehicles Act For Pedestrian Safety, Footpaths & Road Designs