The Kerala High Court has expressed deep shock and concern upon reports that 218 pedestrians have died on zebra crossings in the state between January 1 and October 31, 2025. The number, disclosed in a newspaper report, prompted strong reactions from the Court, with one of the judges describing it as “extremely shocking and egregiously distressing.”
The hearing addressed systemic issues of pedestrian safety. Officials from the state’s transport and road safety departments — including the Transport Commissioner, the Inspector General of Traffic & Road Safety Management, and the Public Works Department Secretary — appeared virtually to respond. They acknowledged the gravity of the situation and pointed to several underlying problems: poor footpaths, substandard road infrastructure, unsafe driving behaviors, and instances of jaywalking. The Inspector General of Traffic noted that nearly half of the pedestrian-involved accidents involved senior citizens.
In response, the Court refused to accept assurances of future corrective measures alone. Instead, it mandated immediate and concrete action. The Court directed that public communication campaigns be launched without delay to spread awareness among drivers that pedestrians have the “right of first access” on zebra crossings. It underscored that marking a zebra crossing on the road is meaningful only if drivers respect it, slow down, and stop when pedestrians intend to cross.
The Court further ordered that no vehicle, under any circumstance, may be parked — even momentarily — on a zebra crossing. Violators must face the prescribed penalties. It specified that warning signs must be installed at least two metres before every pedestrian crossing to alert drivers in advance, in accordance with national standards.
The Court also directed that driving licence tests be revised to include mandatory education on pedestrian rights and zebra-crossing norms. Violations — especially repeated ones — should attract stringent consequences, including licence cancellation. The Court accepted the commitment of traffic-law enforcement agencies to intensify monitoring and enforcement, especially in urban, municipal, and high-density areas.
Recognizing that infrastructure design and maintenance play a critical role, the Court reiterated earlier criticisms of “unscientific design” and poor upkeep of zebra crossings across major cities. It pointed out that many crossings are faded or poorly placed, and often obstructed by parked vehicles — rendering them ineffective for pedestrian safety. The Court highlighted that these failures reflect a disregard for the fundamental duty of authorities to ensure safe pedestrian passage on public roads, especially in congested and high-traffic zones.
The bench insisted that authorities cannot delay remedial measures under the pretext of long-term planning or future projects. The urgency is immediate: lives are at stake. It ordered that the relevant state agencies submit a detailed report of steps taken to implement its directions by the next hearing date.
In emphasizing these measures, the Court reaffirmed the principle that the lives of pedestrians — many of them vulnerable, like senior citizens — are precious and invaluable. It declared that using public roads for walking or crossing should not turn into a matter of luck or chance. Rather, it must be underpinned by systematic protection, law enforcement, infrastructure, and public awareness — all working together to safeguard pedestrian life.
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