SRINAGAR: The Union Government has informed the Lok Sabha that it has introduced a series of legislative, technological and enforcement measures to improve road safety across the country, including mandatory advanced vehicle safety features, a technology-driven e-Challan framework, enhanced compensation for hit-and-run victims and strengthened emergency response on National Highways.
The details were provided by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Jairam Gadkari in a written reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 809, titled National Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan, on July 23, 2026. The question was raised by MPs Hemang Joshi, Rajkumar Chahar, Ramesh Awasthi, Alok Sharma, Anita Nagarsingh Chouhan and Vijay Baghel.
The minister said the Centre has adopted a comprehensive approach covering safer roads, safer vehicles, stricter enforcement and improved post-crash care to reduce road accidents and fatalities.
Among the key initiatives, the government has mandated several vehicle safety technologies, including seat belt reminders, overspeed warning systems, reverse parking alert systems and Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) for specified categories of vehicles.
The government has also notified regulations requiring Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), including Vehicle Stability Function, Lane Departure Warning Systems, Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning Systems, Blind Spot Information Systems and Moving-off Information Systems in medium and heavy vehicles. These provisions will take effect for new models from October 1, 2027, with phased implementation for existing models.
To improve pedestrian safety, all new electric vehicle models manufactured from October 1, 2026, will be required to incorporate an Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) that generates warning sounds at low speeds. Existing electric vehicle models must comply from October 1, 2027.
The reply said new goods vehicles in the N2 and N3 categories manufactured from October 1, 2025, must be fitted with cabin air-conditioning systems. Revised standards for safety belts, restraint systems and rear-seat belt reminders have also been enforced for vehicles manufactured from April 1, 2025.
On enforcement, the Centre said the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 provides for stricter penalties and technology-based monitoring. Rules for electronic monitoring and enforcement require deployment of surveillance devices on high-risk National and State Highway corridors, critical junctions in cities with populations exceeding one million and cities covered under the National Clean Air Programme.
The government further amended the Central Motor Vehicles Rules on January 20, 2026, introducing a transparent, technology-driven and time-bound e-Challan system that allows online payment, digital notifications and electronic challenge of traffic penalties.
The minister also informed Parliament that the National Road Safety Board has been constituted under the National Road Safety Board Rules, 2025, and officially notified on June 29, 2026. In addition, the Centre has issued guidelines for establishing non-lapsable State Road Safety Funds and strengthening District Road Safety Committees to finance local road safety interventions.
As part of efforts to phase out old and polluting vehicles, the government issued operational guidelines for the PARIVARTAN Scheme on July 14, 2026, aimed initially at accelerating replacement of ageing vehicles in the Delhi-NCR region.
On emergency care, Gadkari said the reward under the Rah-Veer Scheme for Good Samaritans assisting road accident victims has been increased from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000.
Compensation under the Hit-and-Run Motor Accident Compensation Scheme has also been enhanced from Rs 12,500 to Rs 50,000 for grievous injuries and from Rs 25,000 to Rs 2 lakh in cases of death.
The government further highlighted the implementation of the Prime Minister–Road Accident Victims’ Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment (PM-Rahat) Scheme, notified on May 5, 2025, followed by detailed operational guidelines issued on June 4, 2025 to facilitate nationwide cashless treatment for road accident victims.
According to the reply, the National Highways Authority of India has also ensured the availability of ambulances with trained medical personnel at toll plazas along completed National Highway corridors as part of efforts to improve emergency response following road accidents.
