On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of India directed all states and union territories to enforce the installation of speed governors, vehicle location tracking devices (VLTDs), and emergency panic buttons in passenger transport vehicles. The court's decision was prompted by a public interest litigation highlighting the widespread violation of Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR). Currently, only less than 5% of transport vehicles are equipped with speed limiting devices, and VLTDs are present in less than 1% of vehicles. The court emphasized the need for compliance, stating that fitness certificates for public service vehicles will not be issued unless these devices are installed. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) was instructed to collaborate with manufacturers to ensure new vehicles come pre-installed with these safety features, while existing vehicles must be retrofitted. The panic button feature is particularly critical as it allows passengers to alert authorities in emergencies, potentially saving lives. The court's ongoing efforts also include measures for cashless treatment for accident victims and electronic surveillance to curb road accidents. In 2023, over 480,583 road crashes resulted in 172,890 deaths, highlighting the urgent need for these safety measures.