**Executive Summary**
NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) has implemented mitigation measures to enhance visibility and improve safety on National Highways during the winter season due to foggy conditions. The measures fall under two categories: Engineering and Safety Awareness. Field offices are required to conduct weekly night-time inspections. The document was issued on December 15, 2023.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Engineering Measures:**
* Reinstalling or repairing road signs and studs.
* Rectifying pavement markings.
* Installing reflective markers and stickers on road safety devices.
* Implementing safety measures on construction stretches, including barricading and diversion signs.
* Providing solar blinkers on median openings.
* **Safety Awareness Measures:**
* Using Variable Message Signs (VMS) or electronic signages to display weather alerts and speed limits.
* Utilizing Public Address Systems to warn commuters.
* Using electronic billboards, radio, and social media for public service announcements.
* Installing reflective tapes on vehicles.
* **NHAI Field Office Directives:**
* Conduct weekly night-time highway inspections to assess visibility and identify locations for additional provisions.
* Station Highway Patrol vehicles near dense foggy stretches with blinking batons.
* Mandate reflective jackets for officials and workers during highway activities.
* Collaborate with law enforcement, ambulance services, and municipal authorities for emergency response.
* Conduct joint drills with traffic police for efficient coordination.
* Delegated financial powers to field officers for accident spot rectification.
* **Commuter Advisory:**
* Follow safe driving techniques: lane driving and safe distance.
* Drive at 30km/hr or less.
* Use head/backlight blinking.
* Park only at designated locations.
* Drive carefully near construction sites and diversions.
* Install reflective tapes (white in front, red in rear) on commercial vehicles.
**Impact Analysis**
**National Highway Users**
*Impact:* Improved visibility and safety on National Highways during foggy conditions.
*Action Required:* Follow NHAI's advisory for safe driving techniques during foggy conditions.
**NHAI Field Offices**
*Impact:* Responsible for implementing the Engineering and Safety Awareness measures, conducting inspections, and collaborating with other agencies.
*Action Required:* Conduct weekly night-time inspections, station highway patrol vehicles, collaborate with emergency services, and utilize financial powers for accident spot rectification.
**Highway Officials and Workers**
*Impact:* Required to use reflective jackets during highway activities.
*Action Required:* Ensure compliance with the reflective jacket requirement during highway activities.
**Law Enforcement, Ambulance Services, and Municipal Authorities**
*Impact:* Need to coordinate with NHAI for seamless emergency response during fog-related incidents.
*Action Required:* Collaborate with NHAI for efficient coordination in fog-related emergencies.
**Commercial Vehicle Operators**
*Impact:* Required to install reflective tapes on vehicles.
*Action Required:* Install reflective tapes (white in front, red in rear) on commercial vehicles.
Key Entities Referenced
NHAI: National Highways Authority of India, the primary agency implementing the visibility enhancement measures.
National Highways: The roads to which these safety measures apply, especially during foggy conditions.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways: The overseeing ministry for road transport and safety.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
NHAI Takes Measures to Enhance Visibility Due
to Foggy Conditions
प्रव तथ: 15 DEC 2025 5:04PM by PIB Delhi
To counter reduced visibility due to foggy conditions on the National Highways during the winter season,
NHAI has taken mitigation measures to enhance visibility for the safety of National Highway users. To
enhance road safety during foggy conditions, mitigation measures have been classified under two heads of
‘Engineering’ and ‘Safety Awareness’ measures.
The ‘Engineering measures’ include reinstalling missing/damaged road signs and road studs, rectifying
faded or inadequate pavement markings, installation of reflective markers and retro-reflective yellow
stickers on road safety devices like metal beam crash barriers, implementation of safety measures on
construction stretches that include barricading, diversion signs, and providing solar blinkers on the median
openings to maximize visibility on National Highway stretches.
The ‘Safety Awareness’ measures highlight steps to alert National Highway users of the reduced visibility
conditions. These measures include use of Variable Message Signs (VMS) or electronic signages to
display ‘Foggy Weather Alerts’ and speed limits, use of Public Address System warning commuters in
foggy areas, use of electronic billboards, radio, and social media for public service announcements as well
as installation of reflective tapes on vehicles to enhance visibility.
In addition, NHAI field offices have been directed to undertake night-time highway inspection on weekly
basis to assess visibility on National Highways and identify locations for installing additional provisions
as required. Also, Highway Patrol vehicles will be stationed near dense foggy stretches, carrying blinking
batons for guiding traffic. Also, use of reflective jackets by officials and workers during highway activities
has been mandated. NHAI will collaborate with local law enforcement, ambulance services, and
municipal authorities for seamless emergency response. In addition, NHAI team will conduct joint drills
with traffic police to ensure efficient coordination during fog-related emergencies.
NHAI has also delegated financial powers for rectification of accident spots to its field officers, these can
be utilized for taking measures to enhance visibility during foggy weather and overall safety.
In order to ensure safety, NHAI urges National Highway commuters to follow safe driving techniques
during foggy conditions such as following lane driving and maintaining safe distance from the vehicle
ahead, driving at the speed of 30km/hr or less to ensure adequate visibility for stopping the vehicle safely,
driving vehicles with head/back light blinking, Don’t park vehicles on Highway but only at designated
locations such as truck lay bays and wayside amenities, drive carefully near construction sites and
diversions, install reflective tapes on commercial vehicles in full width of the vehicle which includes
white tape on front and red colored tape at the rear of the vehicle.
NHAI is committed to take all necessary steps to mitigate risk of commuting on National Highways
during winter season, ensuring safe and seamless travel experience for the National Highway users.
***GDH/ DS
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2204143) आगंतुक पटल : 1191
इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Urdu , ही , Tamil