Taking serious note of the growing number of road accidents and delayed emergency assistance for victims, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed all states and union territories to develop and implement swift response protocols to ensure immediate help for accident victims.
A Bench of Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan stressed that timely medical aid and rescue operations are often lacking, even though lives could be saved with prompt action.
“Road accidents in our country are on the rise. There are cases where victims do not get immediate healthcare. This is a matter of serious public interest,” the Court observed.
The judges noted that in some cases, victims may not be seriously injured but remain trapped inside vehicles, highlighting the need for a comprehensive and localized emergency response system.
While an applicant in the case had suggested six specific components for such a protocol, the Court chose not to pass a binding directive (writ of mandamus) at this stage. However, it made it clear that all state and UT governments must take initiative and start work on developing these systems based on local needs and infrastructure.
6-Month Deadline For Action
The Court has given state and union territory governments six months to begin implementing these protocols and directed them to file progress reports within the stipulated period.
“Each state has different challenges at the grassroots level. We expect them to tailor their response mechanisms accordingly,” the Bench said.
Driver Fatigue Also In Focus
In another significant direction aimed at improving road safety, the Supreme Court also addressed the long and unsafe working hours of transport vehicle drivers, a factor that contributes to many road accidents.
Under Section 91 of the Motor Vehicles Act and the Motor Transport Workers Rules, 1961, commercial drivers are allowed to work only 8 hours a day and 48 hours a week. But the Court noted that this law is widely violated, putting both drivers and the public at risk.
“The issue is not with the law but its implementation,” the Court stated.
To tackle this, the Court has asked the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to convene meetings with relevant departments from all states and union territories. The goal is to develop effective ways to enforce working hour limits, including the possibility of introducing penalties for violators.
Strict Monitoring & Compliance
All state governments have been directed to submit compliance reports to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways by the end of August 2025. The Ministry will compile these into a single report to be presented before the Court for further action.
“Unless there are deterrents, important provisions regarding working hours of drivers cannot be implemented,” the Bench warned.
A Step Toward Safer Roads
This dual-pronged approach by the Supreme Court — focusing on faster emergency response and driver welfare — signals a strong push towards making Indian roads safer for both drivers and passengers.
Experts say the move could help reduce fatalities, improve accountability, and ensure that road safety laws are not just on paper, but meaningfully enforced.
Read More: Supreme Court, Delhi High Court, States High Court, International
