Stakeholders call for stronger enforcement of child safety provisions under Motor Vehicles Act

A multi-stakeholder consultation on strengthening child-related provisions under the Motor Vehicles Act 2019 and improving enforcement mechanisms brought together policy-makers, experts, and frontline officials in Hyderabad on Wednesday, with a focus on closing systemic gaps that continue to put children at risk on Indian roads.

Participants highlighted the scale of the problem, noting that an estimated 10,000 children were killed in road crashes across India in 2023. The discussion centred on identifying gaps in the implementation of child safety provisions under the MV Act. Experts highlighted the need for coordinated action across departments, improved compliance monitoring, and greater public awareness to ensure that safety norms are followed consistently.