Enhanced Highway Lighting to Boost Nighttime Road Safety, Says Gadkari

Hyderabad: Union roads and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said that his ministry was combining rigorous vehicle norms and enhanced road infrastructure to build safer highways for all citizens.

He reaffirmed his ministry's strict implementation of Automotive Industry Standards (AIS) for vehicle headlights to ensure that lighting systems provide optimal illumination without compromising the safety of other road users, thereby minimising the risk of road accidents associated with glare.

Replying to a question by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi regarding accidents caused by high-beam headlight glare, Gadkari explained that there is no specific data recorded solely for such accidents. To further enhance visibility and reduce nighttime accidents, the minister highlighted robust efforts to upgrade highway lighting infrastructure.

Following comprehensive Indian Road Congress guidelines, bright and efficient lighting is being installed at vital locations such as toll plazas, rest areas, flyovers, interchanges, and other high-traffic zones. These improvements significantly bolster driver safety and comfort during night travel.

Gadkari said that road safety is being approached comprehensively by addressing the multiple factors involved, ranging from human behaviour and road conditions to vehicle standards.

The minister shared detailed statistics on road accidents across India from 2018 to 2022, emphasising the government's close monitoring of incidents by time of day. This data helps tailor targeted interventions to enhance safety during night hours, when visibility challenges are heightened.