Constitutional Reforms Needed for Road Safety Governance in India
Contents4
Indian Express - Opinion · 16 Jul 2026 · 2 min read
Prelims · Polity Mains · GS2 Governance High relevance
Discrepancies in road accident death data highlight systemic governance failures, with constitutional fragmentation across Union and State lists impeding effective road safety measures, necessitating structural reforms akin to the GST Council model.
Key points
Data Discrepancies: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways reported 1.77 lakh road deaths in 2024, while NCRB's reports show 1.75 lakh and 1.81 lakh, revealing inconsistencies in data collection methodologies.
Judicial Intervention: In S. Rajaseekaran v. Union of India (2014), the Supreme Court emphasized the preventable nature of road accidents, linking them to Article 21 (Right to Life) and highlighting governance failures.
Constitutional Fragmentation: Road safety responsibilities are split across Union, State, and Concurrent Lists, with no single institution accountable for prevention, leading to jurisdictional conflicts and inefficiencies.
Four Es of Road Safety: The SC identified Engineering, Enforcement, Education, and Emergency Care as critical areas, all of which suffer from underfunding and poor implementation.
GST Council Precedent: The 101st Constitutional Amendment Act created the GST Council to address fiscal fragmentation, suggesting a similar Road Safety Coordination Council could unify road safety standards.
[GS2-Governance] The lack of centralized accountability for road safety reflects broader governance challenges in India's federal structure, requiring legislative and institutional reforms.
[GS3-Infrastructure] Poor highway maintenance (only 35-40% of required funding) and inadequate trauma care infrastructure contribute significantly to high road fatalities.
Way Forward: Amend the Seventh Schedule to clarify road safety responsibilities, establish a Road Safety Coordination Council with Centre-State collaboration, and mandate District Road Safety Committees with enforceable powers.
Key terms
- Seventh Schedule
- The Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution divides legislative powers between the Union and States across three lists. Road safety's fragmentation across these lists (e.g., highways under Union, police under States) creates governance gaps, necessitating constitutional amendments for cohesive policy implementation.
- GST Council
- A constitutional body established under the 101st Amendment Act to harmonize indirect taxation across India. Its success in resolving fiscal fragmentation between Centre and States serves as a model for addressing similar governance challenges in road safety through a coordinated federal mechanism.
- Four Es of Road Safety
- A framework identified by the Supreme Court comprising Engineering (road design), Enforcement (traffic laws), Education (public awareness), and Emergency Care (post-crash response). Systemic failures in these areas, documented in judicial rulings, underscore the need for integrated policy interventions.
- Article 21
- Article 21 of the Indian Constitution guarantees the Right to Life and Personal Liberty. The Supreme Court has expanded its scope to include road safety, ruling that preventable road deaths constitute a violation of this fundamental right, making it a constitutional imperative for governance reforms.
Practice question
Critically examine the constitutional and governance challenges in ensuring road safety in India, with reference to the Four Es framework. Suggest structural reforms needed to address these challenges. (250 words, 15 marks)
GS2 15 marks 250 words Mains
Key terms to include: Four Es of Road Safety Article 21 Seventh Schedule GST Council Road Safety Coordination Council District Road Safety Committees Constitutional Fragmentation Judicial Intervention
Answer framework
Introduction
Briefly introduce the issue of road safety in India, highlighting the high number of fatalities and the constitutional fragmentation of responsibilities.
Constitutional Fragmentation
Division of road safety responsibilities across Union, State, and Concurrent Lists leading to jurisdictional conflicts.
Lack of a single accountable institution for road safety, resulting in inefficiencies.
Four Es Framework Failures
Engineering: Poor road design and maintenance, with only 35-40% of required funding allocated.
Enforcement: Weak implementation of traffic laws due to fragmented policing powers.
Education: Lack of standardized public awareness campaigns across states.
Emergency Care: Inadequate trauma care infrastructure and response systems.
Judicial and Legal Interventions
Supreme Court's interpretation of Article 21 to include road safety, emphasizing governance failures.
Precedent of GST Council as a model for coordinated federal action.
Suggested Reforms
Amend the Seventh Schedule to clarify road safety responsibilities.
Establish a Road Safety Coordination Council with Centre-State collaboration.
Mandate District Road Safety Committees with enforceable powers.
Conclusion
Emphasize the need for a holistic approach combining constitutional amendments, institutional reforms, and better implementation of the Four Es framework to reduce road fatalities.
Fact check
All facts verified