Govt issues new guidelines for Safer Highways with enhanced Signages

The government has issued new guidelines for signages on expressways and national highways to enhance commuter safety. Approved by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, these guidelines aim to improve road safety by incorporating best practices and global standards. The Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways (MoRTH) stated that the focus is on providing better visibility and intuitive guidance to drivers.

MoRTH reviewed the provision of signages based on relevant Indian Road Congress (IRC) codes and guidelines, along with international practices and functional perspectives to ensure better compliance with traffic regulations.

The guidelines aim to offer clear and concise guidance, warnings, notices, and regulatory information to drivers, facilitating a seamless and safe journey. They prioritise enhanced visibility through proper placement, appropriate height/distance, large lettering, symbols, and short legends for quick comprehension, even in adverse conditions.

To cater to diverse road users, including those with limited literacy, pictorial representations will be accompanied by text to convey essential messages effectively. A multilingual approach will be employed, using both English and regional languages for effective communication with road users.

Special attention has been given to promoting better lane discipline, strategically positioning signages to provide clear and intuitive guidance, encouraging adherence to designated lanes, and minimising traffic congestion.

Initially, these guidelines will be implemented on all upcoming highways, expressways, and greenfield corridors. Highways experiencing high traffic volume will be given priority, especially those with more than 20,000 passenger car units.