New Road Safety Rules Bigger Signs, No Parking Markers, and Helplines Every 5 KM Starting February 2025
*The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has announced new guidelines to improve signage and road markings on National Highways (NHs) and expressways. The new regulations, set to come into force in February 2025, mandate the installation of clearer, larger speed limit signs and other important markings at frequent intervals, aiming to guide drivers more effectively.*
Under the updated guidelines, road-owning agencies will be required to paint speed limits and vehicle logos on the pavement at regular intervals of 10 km. Additionally, speed limit signage must be placed every 5 km to ensure better visibility and awareness. The aim is to reduce accidents by making important information readily visible to drivers, especially in high-traffic areas. The guidelines also include the requirement for placing ‘no parking’ signs every 5 km, addressing the growing concern of roadside parking, which has been a significant contributor to fatal crashes, particularly at night. The authorities are further instructed to place signage informing drivers about the emergency helpline number at the same intervals, making it easier for motorists to seek assistance in case of emergencies. Further measures include the installation of directional signage for heavy and slow-moving vehicles, guiding them to stay on the extreme left lane. The guidelines also stipulate that signage must be placed at least 2 km before exit points on expressways and highways to help drivers make informed decisions in advance. Moreover, signs indicating wayside amenities will be placed 5 km, 2 km, and 1 km before such locations, ensuring drivers are prepared for upcoming rest stops.
To enhance the driving experience, the new guidelines emphasize the importance of road signs as the ‘language of the road’. With a growing number of vehicles on Indian roads, improving the effectiveness of these visual cues is crucial to ensuring road safety. However, experts like Deepanshu Gupta from the Indian Road Safety Campaign (IRSC) also stress the need for drivers to be well-versed in reading and understanding these signs. Despite being a mandatory part of the driving licence process, adequate signage knowledge remains an issue among many road users. The Road Transport Ministry is also pushing for the installation of gantries with speed-wise lane dedicated information signs to guide specific vehicles to the appropriate lanes. This will further streamline traffic and improve the flow of vehicles, especially on expressways, where lane discipline is critical for safety. With these comprehensive measures, the Ministry aims to reduce accidents and enhance overall safety on India’s expressways and National Highways, ultimately ensuring safer and more efficient road travel for millions of commuters.