Supreme Court Issues Pan-India Guidelines to Improve Highway Safety, Bans Illegal Roadside Stops

April 19, 2026 : The Supreme Court has laid down a set of nationwide guidelines aimed at strengthening road safety, warning that expressways and highways cannot be allowed to turn into “corridors of danger” because of administrative failures or poor infrastructure.

A bench comprising Justices J K Maheshwari and A S Chandurkar highlighted a stark concern: although national highways make up only about two percent of India’s total road network, they account for nearly 30 percent of all road fatalities. The Court observed that even a single death caused by preventable hazards reflects a serious failure on the part of the State.

In a key direction, the Court ordered that heavy and commercial vehicles must not park or stop on any national highway carriageway or paved shoulder, except at designated parking bays or authorised wayside facilities. This measure is intended to reduce accidents caused by sudden obstructions on high-speed corridors.

The bench also imposed an immediate ban on the construction or operation of new dhabas, eateries, or any commercial establishments within the Right of Way of national highways. The Court noted that unregulated roadside structures often contribute to unsafe traffic conditions.

To ensure strict enforcement, the Court directed the use of Advanced Traffic Management Systems. These will include real-time alerts to State Police, GPS-based timestamped photographic evidence, and integrated e-challan systems to penalise violations efficiently.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the National Highways Authority of India, and all State and Union Territory authorities have been instructed to take urgent steps to implement these directions and improve highway safety across the country.