Delhi HC To Ban Slow-Moving Vehicles On Expressways

An oversight could culminate in tragic consequences…

On Wednesday, 01 November 2023, the Delhi High Court directed the traffic police to ensure a ban on slow-moving vehicles on expressways, saying an oversight could culminate in tragic consequences, including several casualties.

In an order released on Tuesday, a bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma; observed that adherence to traffic norms was not merely a matter of law but a necessity to safeguard people travelling as well as to facilitate unhindered vehicular flow, and that the inherent vulnerability of slow-moving vehicles like two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and tractors amplify the risk on expressways.

Emphasizing that road safety demand requires attention and collective efforts by authorities and the public, the court ordered, "Respondent No. 3 [Deputy Commissioner of Police, (Traffic), south -West] is directed to ensure rigorous enforcement of existing prohibitions... about the movement of slow-moving vehicles on expressways, especially within the territorial confines of the NCT of the national Capital."

The bench, also comprising Justice Sanjeev Narula, added that regular monitoring and prompt corrective action should be taken by the authorities whenever deviations from the prescribed norms are observed.