India's Supreme Court mandates states to regulate pedestrian safety and road standards within six months.

The Supreme Court has ordered all Indian states and union territories to create rules within six months to regulate pedestrian and non-motorized vehicle movement on public roads and national highways, and to set standards for road design, construction, and maintenance outside national highways. Issued on October 7, 2025, by Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan, the directive stems from a public interest petition by surgeon S. Rajasekaran, citing India’s high road accident rates. The court emphasized improved safety for pedestrians, mandatory helmet use with e-enforcement, regulation of dangerous vehicle lights, and infrastructure compliance with Indian Roads Congress guidelines. Officials and contractors may face personal liability for deaths due to poor road design or maintenance.