Supreme Court Orders NHAI to Identify 595 Accident-Prone Parking Areas on Highways

The Supreme Court of India issued orders directing the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to identify, document, and implement regulatory measures for 595 accident-prone unauthorized parking areas across national highways. This judicial intervention responds to escalating highway accidents caused by unregulated commercial parking, inadequate safety infrastructure, and poor enforcement of existing regulations. Context: India's road accidents kill approximately 150,000+ people annually, with highway accidents accounting for significant mortality. Unauthorized parking creates bottlenecks, obscures visibility, obstructs emergency vehicle access, and violates National Highway Code provisions. Background: Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and National Highway Authority of India Act, 1956 provide regulatory framework for highway safety. Despite existing regulations, enforcement remains inconsistent due to resource constraints, jurisdictional ambiguities between state and central authorities, and corruption. The Court's order mandates: (1) Complete inventory of unauthorized parking zones, (2) Installation of proper signage, barriers, and safety features, (3) Coordination with state police for enforcement, (4) Regular monitoring and compliance reporting. This represents judicial activism in public safety governance, compelling executive action on identified infrastructure failures. Implications: Sets precedent for court-mandated highway safety improvements, impacts commercial transportation sector (trucking companies, logistics), and requires resource allocation for infrastructure upgrades. UPSC examinations test knowledge of constitutional provisions on public safety, judicial review of administrative action, motor vehicle law, and infrastructure governance. Connection to Rule of Law, separation of powers, and judicial intervention in policy implementation.