Kerala High Court flags systemic road safety gaps, seeks expert panel

The Kerala High Court has highlighted critical gaps in the road safety framework, attributing a significant number of fatalities to systemic failures rather than isolated incidents. In its assessment, the court identified that structural and procedural deficiencies in road management and traffic oversight have created hazardous conditions that persist despite existing regulations.

Addressing these concerns, the court has sought the constitution of a specialized road safety research committee tasked with conducting a comprehensive study into behavioral factors contributing to accidents. The proposed panel is to comprise traffic psychologists, behavioral scientists, civil engineers, and other relevant specialists who can examine the human and environmental dimensions of road safety.

The initiative reflects a shift toward evidence-based policy-making in road safety, moving beyond conventional enforcement approaches. By incorporating psychological and behavioral perspectives alongside engineering expertise, the committee aims to identify root causes of accidents that current safety measures may have overlooked.

The court's directive underscores growing judicial concern over the toll of road accidents in Kerala, where infrastructure development has not kept pace with traffic growth. The establishment of the expert panel is expected to guide state authorities in formulating targeted interventions that address both systemic deficiencies and behavioral patterns that increase accident risk.