Executive Summary:
This document is the response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3122 regarding road accidents involving pedestrians, answered on August 7th, 2025. It clarifies the proportion of accidents involving pedestrians, and outlines existing provisions and guidelines for road and pedestrian pathway development and maintenance, as well as road safety measures. The response highlights the roles of both the Central and State Governments in ensuring road safety.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Accident Data:**
* Pedestrian-involved accidents constituted approximately 17% of total accidents in 2022, based on data received from States/UTs.
* Road accidents are multicausal, resulting from a combination of human error, road conditions/environment, and vehicle condition.
* **Road Design, Construction, and Maintenance Standards:**
* Section 198A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 mandates adherence to Central Government-prescribed design, construction, and maintenance standards for road safety.
* Rule 1661 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989 requires National Highways to be designed, constructed and maintained as per Indian Road Congress (IRC) standards or Central Government guidelines.
* Rule 1662 of CMVR, 1989 requires other roads, including pedestrian pathways, to be designed, constructed, and maintained as per IRC standards or State Government guidelines.
* **Responsibilities of Government Bodies:**
* The Central Government is responsible for developing and maintaining National Highways.
* Respective State Governments are responsible for developing and maintaining roads under their jurisdiction.
* The Indian Roads Congress (IRC) formulates standards for various road categories, including provisions for road safety, published through codes, manuals, and guidelines.
* **Provisions for Pedestrian Safety on National Highways:**
* IRC:103-2012 provides guidelines for pedestrian facilities.
* A Circular dated June 17th, 2015, stipulates guidelines for pedestrian facilities for persons with disabilities on National Highways.
* Foot Over Bridges (FOBs) with ramps or lifts are provided at specified locations.
* IRC:99-2018 contains detailed guidelines for traffic calming measures like rumble strips, speed bumps, speed tables, and raised pedestrian crossings.
* **Road Safety and Enforcement:**
* The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, was amended in 2019 to strengthen road safety laws.
* While the Central Government formulates rules, enforcement falls under the purview of State Governments/UT Administrations.
Impact Analysis:
* **Central Government (Ministry of Road Transport and Highways):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for formulating rules and standards for road safety and the development/maintenance of National Highways.
* *Action Required:* Continue formulating and updating road safety standards and guidelines, and overseeing the development and maintenance of National Highways.
* **State Governments/UT Administrations:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for the development, maintenance and enforcement of road safety regulations for roads under their jurisdiction.
* *Action Required:* Adhere to standards and specifications for roads under their jurisdiction, enforce road safety rules, and maintain/develop roads.
* **Designated Authorities, Contractors, Consultants, Concessionaires:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for adhering to prescribed design, construction, and maintenance standards for road safety.
* *Action Required:* Follow the design, construction, and maintenance standards prescribed by the Central Government for road safety.
* **Indian Roads Congress (IRC):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for formulating and publishing standards for road design, construction, and maintenance, including road safety provisions.
* *Action Required:* Continue to formulate and update standards and guidelines for various road categories, incorporating the latest safety measures.
* **Citizens/Pedestrians:**
* *Impact:* Affected by the availability and quality of pedestrian facilities and the enforcement of road safety regulations.
* *Action Required:* Adhere to traffic rules and utilize available pedestrian facilities for their safety.
Key Entities Referenced
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS: The Indian government ministry responsible for the development and maintenance of road transport infrastructure.
Road Accidents in India: A report published by the Government of India based on data received from States and Union Territories regarding road accidents.
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988: An act of the Parliament of India that regulates all aspects of road transport vehicles.
Central Motor Vehicles Rules CMVR, 1989: Rules established by the Central Government of India that govern the design, construction, and maintenance of roads, including National Highways.
Indian Road Congress: An apex body of highway engineers in India that formulates and publishes standards and specifications for road construction and maintenance.
National Highways: The network of highways that connect major cities and states in India, maintained by the central government.
State Governments: The governments of the individual states within India, responsible for development and maintenance of roads under their jurisdiction.
IRC:1032012 "Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities": Guidelines published by the Indian Roads Congress related to pedestrian facilities.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3122
ANSWERED ON 7TH AUGUST, 2025
ROAD ACCIDENTS DUE TO PEDESTRIANS
3122. MRS RUCHI VIRA:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is true that as per a previous report of the ministry,
approximately twenty percent of road accidents are caused by
pedestrians, if so, the details thereof; and
(b) whether the Government has planned to improve road conditions
and create dedicated pedestrian pathways, if so, the details thereof
and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) The Government publishes report on “Road Accidents in India”
based on data received from States/ UTs. As per data received from the
States/UTs, road accidents are multi-causal phenomenon and are the
result of interplay of various factors. These can broadly be categorized
into (i) human error, (ii) road condition/environment and (iii) vehicular
condition. As per report, the accidents involving pedestrian constitutes
about 17% of total number of accidents during calendar year 2022.
(b) Sub-section (1) of Section 198A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988
provides for any designated authority, contractor, consultant or
concessionaire responsible for the design or construction or
maintenance of the safety standards of the road to follow such design,
construction and maintenance standards, as may be prescribed by the
Central Government from time to time.Further, Rule 166(1) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989
provides that the design, construction and maintenance of National
Highways shall be in6accordance with the standards and specifications
of the Indian Road Congress as may be applicable, or any other
instructions or guidelines issued by the Central Government from time
to time.
Rule 166(2) of CMVR, 1989 provides that the design, construction and
maintenance of roads including pedestrian pathways other than
National Highways shall be in accordance with the standards and
specifications of the Indian Road Congress as may be applicable, or any
other instructions or guidelines issued by the State Government from
time to time.
The Government is responsible for development and maintenance of
National Highways. Respective State Governments are responsible for
development and maintenance of roads under their jurisdiction. Indian
Roads Congress (IRC) formulates various standards related to design,
construction and maintenance of various categories of roads including
National Highways (NHs), State Highways (SHs), Major District Roads
(MDRs), Other District Roads (ODRs), village Roads, etc. and publish
same through codes, manuals, guidelines etc. including provisions
related to road safety. Works on National Highways are carried out in
accordance with M/o RT&H Specifications for Road and Bridge Works
and applicable IRC codes, manuals etc. The respective State
Governments decide on their own as to standards & specifications
applicable for roads/ highways under their jurisdiction.
There are various provisions for pedestrian safety on National
Highways such as :-
Provisions of pedestrian facilities have been specified in the
IRC:103-2012 "Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities". A Circular
dated 17th June, 2015 has also been issued wherein guidelines
for Pedestrian Facilities on National Highways for persons with
disabilities have been stipulated.
Foot Over Bridges (FOBs) are provided at various specified
locations with ramps or lifts to facilitate the crossing on National
Highways by pedestrians.
Detailed guidelines are contained in IRC:99-2018 for traffic
calming measures, in which various traffic measures such as
rumble strip, Speed Bumps, Speed Table/Raised PedestrianCrossing etc. are provided on National Highways and adjoining
roads.
The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 through an amendment notified in
2019 has strengthened the law to improve the Road Safety scenario
and reduce loss of lives. While Central Government formulates rules
under the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, the enforcement of these rules
comes under the purview of State Governments/UT Administrations.
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