Fix panic buttons, tracking devices in public transport vehicles: SC to States, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court directed all States and Union Territories to enforce the Central Motor Vehicles (CMV) Rules, 1989.
• The rules mandate installation of speed governors, vehicle location tracking devices, and emergency panic buttons in passenger transport vehicles.
• Data presented in Parliament in 2024 showed low compliance with these safety measures.
• The court ordered that fitness certificates should not be issued to non-compliant public service vehicles.

Detailed Insights:

• The court's direction came in response to a public interest litigation highlighting India's high rate of road fatalities.
• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has been directed to consult with vehicle manufacturers to ensure pre-installation of these devices in new vehicles.
• States and UTs are required to retrofit existing vehicles with these devices and integrate compliance data with the VAHAN portal for real-time monitoring.
• The court expressed concern over the "utter callous and casual attitude" of State authorities towards road safety measures.

Key Concepts Involved:

• VAHAN portal: A centralized database for vehicle registration and related information in India.
• Speed Governor: A device that limits the top speed of a vehicle to improve safety.
• Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989: Rules established by the central government of India to regulate motor vehicles.