**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is focused on enhancing road safety and reducing accidents on National Highways. Key initiatives include establishing a Centre of Excellence for Road Safety (CoERS), deploying Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS), and mandating active safety features in Medium and Heavy Duty vehicles. The document also mentions deadlines for when the use of different features will be effective.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Centre of Excellence for Road Safety (CoERS):**
* Established at IIT Madras.
* Purpose is to bring best road safety practices to the country and foster collaboration.
* **National Highway (NH) Standards and Guidelines:**
* All NH works adhere to standards, guidelines, and codes of the Indian Roads Congress (IRC).
* These are based on international best practices.
* **Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS):**
* Deployment of ATMS is aimed at improving road safety.
* ATMS includes AI-based Video Incident Detection and Enforcement Systems (VIDES), Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, and Pan to Zoom (PTZ) cameras.
* **Active Safety Features in Vehicles:**
* Rules are being published for active safety features in Medium and Heavy Duty vehicles.
* Braking Systems: Anti-lock Braking and Endurance Braking System for M2, M3, N1, N2, N3 and Quadricycle.
* Effective for new models from 1st January, 2027.
* Effective for existing models from 1st October, 2027.
* Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS): Vehicle Stability Function (VSF), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning Systems, Blind Spot Information Systems and Moving off Information Systems for M2, M3, N2 and N3 categories of vehicles
* Effective for new models from 1st October, 2027.
* Effective for existing models from 1st January, 2028.
* **Road Safety Initiatives:**
* High Fatality Corridors on National Highways have been identified.
* Remedial measures are being implemented to reduce accidents based on site requirements.
* Road Safety Advocacy programs are raising awareness.
* National Road Safety Month is observed annually for awareness campaigns.
**Impact Analysis**
**Vehicle Manufacturers**
*Impact:*
Need to implement new active safety features in Medium and Heavy Duty vehicle models according to specified timelines.
*Action Required:*
Update manufacturing processes to incorporate mandated Braking Systems and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) by the deadlines provided.
**Vehicle Owners**
*Impact:*
Existing vehicle owners need to retrofit certain vehicles to comply with the new safety feature mandates.
*Action Required:*
Plan and budget for upgrading vehicles.
**Commuters/Citizens**
*Impact:*
Increased road safety and reduced accident risk on National Highways.
*Action Required:*
Be aware of Road Safety Advocacy programs.
Key Entities Referenced
National Highways: Roads designated as National Highways in India, central to the policy focus on accident prevention.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways: The government ministry responsible for the policy related to road safety and accident prevention on National Highways.
Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS): Technology to improve road safety and reduce accidents on National Highways.
Indian Roads Congress (IRC): Standards, guidelines, manuals, and codes of practice used to ensure safety on roads and bridges.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
PREVENTING ROAD ACCIDENTS ON NATIONAL
HIGHWAYS
Posted On: 04 FEB 2026 7:07PM by PIB Delhi
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has established Centre of Excellence for Road Safety (CoERS)
at Indian Institute of Technology, Madras for bringing the best practices of road safety to the Country and
for collaboration between academia, industry, and the Government. All National Highways (NHs) works
are carried out as per standards, guidelines, manual, code of practice of Indian Roads Congress (IRC) as
well as specifications for Road and Bridge Works which are formulated on the basis of the international
best practices and guidelines.
Envisages deployment of Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) with the objective of
improving road safety and reducing accidents, on National Highways. ATMS includes AI-based Video
Incident Detection and Enforcement Systems (VIDES), Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR)
cameras, Pan to Zoom (PTZ) cameras and surveillance cameras for electronic monitoring, enforcement,
early detection of incidents and real-time field response. Various initiatives are undertaken to make
vehicles safer, including publishing of the rules for Active safety features in Medium and Heavy Duty
vehicles, which
provide for Braking System including Anti-lock Braking, Endurance Braking System for M2, M3, N1,
N2, N3 and Quadricycle (effective for new models from 1st January, 2027 and for existing models from
1st October, 2027), and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) including Vehicle Stability
Function (VSF), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning
Systems, Blind Spot Information Systems and Moving off Information Systems for M2, M3, N2 and N3
categories of vehicles (effective for new models from 1st October, 2027 and for existing models from 1st
January, 2028).
Government has identified High Fatality Corridors on the National Highways and various remedial
measures are undertaken based on the site requirements for reducing the accidents. Road Safety Advocacy
programs are carried out for raising awareness about road safety. National Road Safety Month is observed
every year for spreading awareness and strengthening road safety. During this month public awareness
campaigns, distribution of pamphlet, distribution of helmet etc. are carried out so as to minimize road
accidents and fatalities.
This information was given by the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Jairam
Gadkari Ji in written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
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GDH/HJ
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