Road Safety in India: A Multi-Level Breakdown of Ethical, Legal, and Policy Issues

Poor observance of road safety norms, as reflected in persistent accident statistics, highlights the urgent need for stricter compliance, targeted training, and enforcement—not only to save lives, but also to reduce the overwhelming burden on public health systems

India-Specific Context (from MoRTH Reports & WHO) (Reference 1):

• Over 4.6 lakh road accidents were reported in India in 2022.
• 1.68 lakh deaths occurred due to road accidents that year.
• Major causes include overspeeding (around 70%), drunk driving, not wearing helmets/seat belts, and violating traffic signals.
• Youth aged 18–45 account for nearly 70% of road traffic fatalities, placing a burden directly on healthcare trauma and emergency systems.

Despite awareness campaigns and legal frameworks, road safety remains poorly observed, especially in terms of seatbelt use, speeding, helmet compliance, and distracted driving. The result is a continuous and avoidable strain on healthcare services—emergency rooms, trauma units, and long-term rehabilitation — and a litigation burden for obtaining suitable compensation and proving the offense. No compensation is ever adequate to compensate for the loss of human life. So, what is missing to done?

Moral and Ethical Failure in Road Safety Compliance

Desire to Provide Cars vs. Responsibility in Driving

According to Indian road safety statistics, young drivers (especially under the age of 30) [Reference 2] are involved in a disproportionate number of road accidents. The lack of proper driving education contributes significantly to this trend.

Analysis:

• Safety Education: In many parts of India, a car is often seen as a status symbol; however, the focus on teaching young drivers proper road behavior, safety norms, and moral responsibility is frequently overlooked. This neglect is an apparent failure not only in legal compliance (following traffic rules) but in instilling road safety ethics. The fundamental idea here is that if children are taught to value road safety and take responsibility, it aligns with broader ethical values such as respect for life, accountability, and civic duty. The issue of accidents involving youth raises an important question: how do parents determine that their children are eligible to drive a car?

COMPLIANCE 1

In any MACT litigation, mitigation considerations should include the extent of parental guidance and training imparted on road safety before entrusting a child with a vehicle, even when legally eligible to drive—beyond mere reliance on school or college credentials—based on which the parents assessed the child’s readiness to drive. No leniency should be granted in cases involving forged or backdated certifications. This will ensure more safety and preparedness of adults to drive. In case of rural India, the same role can be taken over by organization hiring near drivers.

Ethics and Compliance in Road Safety for Pedestrians: Two-Sided Issue

1. Ethical Failure in Pedestrian Behavior:
   When pedestrians choose to cross roads outside of designated crossings, it’s not just a matter of convenience—it reflects a lack of responsibility and respect for road safety norms. There’s a broader ethical issue where people fail to consider the safety of others. By choosing shortcuts and crossing roads haphazardly, pedestrians put themselves at risk and contribute to the general disregard for road safety in society.
2. Compliance Failure among Drivers:
   Similarly, when drivers fail to stop for pedestrians at designated crossings, it’s not only a legal violation but also an ethical lapse. Drivers are supposed to prioritize pedestrian safety, yet this often doesn’t happen. Drivers’ disregard for pedestrian rights at crosswalks reflects a societal failure to instill the values of respect and empathy for others. It’s a compliance issue because traffic laws require vehicles to stop for pedestrians at crosswalks. However, weak enforcement and cultural attitudes of indifference contribute to a lack of adherence to these laws.

Lack of Empathy: The failure of both pedestrians to use crosswalks and drivers to stop at crossings reflects a lack of empathy for the vulnerability of others. This goes beyond just rules—it taps into fundamental human values of respect and care for others’ lives.

COMPLIANCE 2

Shared Responsibility: Both pedestrians and drivers share responsibility for safety on the road, but it’s often neglected in favor of convenience or frustration. Framing it as a shared ethical responsibility can highlight that road safety isn’t just a legal issue but a social one. While deciding such cases, the court should give due importance to the neglect in this shared responsibility, both by pedestrians and Drivers. This will drive towards greater compliance with road safety. In India, pedestrians crossing roads at undesignated points—outside zebra crossings—should be held liable under state traffic laws, where fines range from ₹50 to ₹500 for obstructing traffic. However, with pedestrians accounting for nearly 20% of the 1.5 lakh road deaths annually, it is imperative that systemic failures such as missing, faded, or encroached pedestrian infrastructure are not overlooked. The recent Supreme Court recognition of safe pedestrian infrastructure as a fundamental right under Article 21 further reinforces the need for courts and lawmakers to attribute equal accountability to civic authorities for failing to ensure safe crossings [Reference 3]. The system must clearly demarcate ‘No Crossing Zones’ using both symbolic signage and written warnings in the local language. These zones should explicitly inform pedestrians of the prohibition and the penalties applicable for violations, ensuring both awareness and enforceability of road safety norms.

Road Safety and Educational Compliance

• Road safety education in India is undergoing significant expansion via state curriculum reforms, digital modules, teacher training, and elective credit programs—but there’s no single mandatory subject nationwide yet. Implementation varies widely by region and school board. NCERT + Ministry of Education (2025–26): Mandated audio-visual modules on road safety as an elective from Classes 1–12, carrying credit points [Reference 4]

COMPLIANCE 3

Road safety should not merely be a passing mention but an essential component of compulsory education and core life skills. Knowledge of road signs, traffic regulations, and pedestrian safety must be systematically introduced from Class III and reinforced through to higher education. This subject should be mandatory at every academic level to ensure a sustained and comprehensive understanding of road discipline. Importantly, performance in road safety education should be factored into the main academic evaluation system, emphasizing its seriousness and encouraging active participation. Furthermore, road safety education must extend beyond formal schooling—integrated into all phases of learning and supplemented with hands-on training. In a world where careers often go beyond the desk top jobs, practical life skills such as driving safely and navigating roads under work-related stress are equally critical. Empowering individuals with this knowledge is not only a matter of personal safety but a civic responsibility. There should be extra credit for such education for availing any services or applying for jobs. Even shopping malls can come with innovative gift vouchers for responsible citizen to support laws.This can save employers expenses on workers comp of emplolyee is sensitive to responsibility on road. Even jobs should have a mandatory observations of road safety week by staff participation and also proper drivers license or training of particular credit hours should be made mandatory for hiring even using public transport.

Commercial Drivers and Road Safety Compliance

COMPLIANCE 4

Any commercial driver-light or heavy motor vehicle driver caught driving under the influence of alcohol should immediately be removed from their job. Reinstating such individuals into their roles not only jeopardizes road safety but also undermines the integrity of the business. Companies must take a firm stand by terminating drivers involved in drunken driving violations to set a clear example of zero tolerance for endangering lives on the road. Additionally, any driver recruited with a fraudulent or improper driver’s license—whether obtained through wrongful means or lacking proper training—should face triple penalties. These stronger penalties should not only apply to the driver but also to the business owners who hire such individuals. This ensures that companies take full responsibility for verifying the authenticity and competence of their drivers, preventing unqualified individuals from being allowed behind the wheel and safeguarding public safety.

Compliance by Driving Schools

A growing concern is the rise of motor vehicle driving schools run by uncertified professionals or those lacking proper training. To address this, a national regulatory body should be established to certify both driving schools and their instructors. This body should set uniform standards for both commercial and non-commercial driver training programs. The government should maintain a national database of certified driving schools, ensuring that individuals receive training only from institutions that are recognized. If fraudulent agencies are involved in issuing licenses or providing improper training, they should be subject to severe penalties, including penalties for the businesses running such schools.

COMPLIANCE 5

Suppose any road accident is linked to improper training or the issuance of a fraudulent driver’s license. In that case, the chain of investigation and litigations should extend to the driving school and the individuals responsible for issuing the licenses as important party to the litigation. This will hold accountable not just the drivers but also the agencies involved in training and certification. This regulatory framework will discourage the growth of unlicensed or improper driving schools and ensure that both commercial and non-commercial drivers are adequately trained, contributing to overall road safety. The private sector should be encouraged to participate in this sector, but only under strict regulations that ensure they meet national standards for driver education.

Systems Compliance

COMPLIANCE 6

In addition to the responsibilities of individuals and businesses, the law must also appropriately take into account the compliance standards required from traffic policemen in observing and enforcing road safety. Traffic police play a crucial role in upholding road safety measures, and their ability to effectively monitor and enforce regulations depends on having clear guidelines, proper support, and transparency in their conduct. Transparency in the actions and decisions of officials on duty ensures accountability, reduces corruption, and builds public trust in the enforcement process. This includes having the necessary training, tools, and authority to observe violations and take appropriate action. If the law doesn’t set the right standards for enforcement, and if the actions of traffic policemen are not transparent, even the best policies and education may fail to make a significant impact on road safety.

Conclusion

Compliance with the law cannot be a piecemeal exercise. It requires a proactive, comprehensive approach that examines all the factors essential for effective enforcement, whether related to road safety or any other area. Achieving this requires the collective responsibility of the system, the people, and the service providers. Tackling road safety violations, for instance, cannot be a one-sided effort that places blame solely on the individual behind the wheel. It is equally crucial to address the entire chain of accountability—from the driver to the pedestrians, from the trainers to the regulatory bodies ensuring the standards. A holistic approach ensures that justice is not only served but also that the systemic issues contributing to these violations are rectified. Only through this comprehensive, multi-faceted strategy can we hope to create a safer, more responsible road environment.

1. PTI. (2023, October 31). Not wearing seat belts claimed 16,715 lives in road accidents in 2022: MoRTH. The Economic Times. Retrieved from https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/not-wearing‑seat‑belts‑claimed‑16715‑lives‑in‑road‑accidents‑in‑2022‑morth/articleshow/104859257.cms
2. Salve, P. (2019, Nov. 19). Poor enforcement and training behind India’s high road accident Numbers. NDTVG. Retrieved from https://www.indiaspend.com/poor-enforcement-lack-of-training-causing-more-deaths-on-indian-roads
3. ET Bureau. (2025, May 23). Alas, India is no pedestrian country. The Economic Times. Retrieved July 5, 2025, from https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/et-editorial/alas-india-is-no-pedestrian-country/articleshow/121368803.cms.
4. Dash, D. K. (2025, April 23). Include audio‑visual road safety modules for students of Class I to Class XII: Pradhan to NCERT. The Times of India. Retrieved July 5, 2025, from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/include-audio-visual-road-safety-modules-for-students-of-class-i-to-class-xii-pradhan-to-ncert/articleshow/120529934.cms
   

AUTHOR

Jyoti Srivastava,

Founder, Indian Law Watch

University of Pittsburgh, USA (Healthcare Compliance Law); Law Center-I, DU (LL.B); Hindu College, DU (B.Sc. Botany Hons.)