Stakeholders Urge Stricter Enforcement of Child Safety Rules in Motor Vehicles Act

A multi-stakeholder consultation was held in Hyderabad to address the urgent need for stronger enforcement of child safety provisions under the Motor Vehicles Act 2019. The event, organized at the Indian Institute of Public Health, brought together policy-makers, experts, and frontline officials to discuss systemic gaps endangering children on Indian roads. Participants highlighted alarming statistics, noting that approximately 10,000 children were killed in road crashes across India in 2023. The primary focus of the discussion was on identifying implementation failures and proposing solutions to ensure consistent adherence to safety norms. Key recommendations included the need for coordinated action across various government departments, improved mechanisms for compliance monitoring, and enhanced public awareness campaigns. The stakeholders emphasized that without rigorous enforcement and inter-departmental cooperation, existing legal provisions remain insufficient to protect vulnerable young passengers. This gathering underscores a growing consensus among civil society and administrative bodies to prioritize child safety in traffic regulations and reduce the high mortality rate associated with road accidents in the country.