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Supreme Court directs States to install panic buttons, GPS tracking in public transport
On May 13, 2026, the Supreme Court directed all States and Union Territories to enforce CMV Rules 1989 by mandating speed governors, vehicle location tracking devices, and emergency panic buttons in public transport vehicles, with time-bound compliance for new and existing fleets. It ordered fresh status reports, retrofitting, manufacturer consultations, and VAHAN data integration, while referencing an earlier 2018 order and 2024 Parliament data. The court also set a deadline to constitute the National Road Safety Board and posted the matter for September hearing.
Why It Matters
The ruling aims to strengthen road safety and emergency response in public transport by enforcing safety devices and monitoring compliance nationally.
Timeline
5 Events
Hearing scheduled for September 2026
September 2026
The matter was posted for hearing in September 2026.
Deadline to constitute National Road Safety Board (three months)
May 13, 2026
The court granted one last opportunity to constitute the National Road Safety Board within a period of three months from today.
May 13, 2026: Supreme Court directs enforcement of CMV Rules 1989
May 13, 2026
The Bench directed all States and Union Territories to strictly enforce the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 by ensuring the installation of speed-limiting devices, vehicle location tracking devices, and emergency panic buttons in a time-bound and verifiable manner in both new and existing public service vehicles. It ordered States to file fresh status reports, mandated retrofitting of existing vehicles, and called for consultations with manufacturers to fit these devices at the manufacturing stage, while integrating compliance data with the VAHAN portal.
Parliament data on safety device adoption (2024)
2024
Data placed before Parliament in 2024 showed that speed-limiting devices had been installed in less than 5% of transport vehicles and vehicle location tracking devices in fewer than 1% of such vehicles, according to counsel.
2018: RT Ministry issues order for vehicle location tracking and emergency buttons
2018
The Road Transport Ministry issued the Motor Vehicles (Vehicle Location Tracking Device and Emergency Button) Order in 2018 to facilitate timely emergency response in distress situations.