Potholes kill more than terror attacks, says Supreme Court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday expressed serious concern over increasing accidents due to potholes on roads and said these are much more than deaths due to terror attacks. A Bench of Justices Madan B. Lokur and Deepak Gupta dealing with a petition on road safety observed that persons who have lost their lives as a result of accidents caused due to potholes should be entitled to compensation.

Justice Lokur observed “it is a matter of common knowledge that a large number of people have died in accidents caused due to potholes on roads and authorities, who are supposed to maintain the roads, are not doing their duties properly. It was not known where one would find potholes on roads and which one would lead to fatal accident. This is frightening. It is about life and death of a person and this problem should be addressed.”

The Bench also made it clear that from September 1 onwards, automobile companies in the country cannot sell four-wheelers and two-wheelers without a mandatory third party insurance for a period of two years and five years. In view of unsatisfactory third-party insurance offered to vehicles, the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety has asked the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) to offer a mandatory three-year policy for cars and a five-year policy for motorbikes at the time of sale and registration. 

Quoting media reports, the Bench said: “So many people are dying in the country due to accidents caused by potholes on roads. Reports say that more people have died due to accidents caused by potholes than the deaths in terrorist attacks.” It asked the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety to look into this very serious issue and file a report within two weeks. The bench also said the panel should give recommendations on potholes on roads as the issue was a part of road safety.