Delhi Road Safety Experts Advocate 30 km/h Limits in High-Risk Zones

New road safety data and expert analysis have renewed calls for lower speed limits in New Delhi’s urban and high-risk traffic zones, as fatal road crashes continue to challenge city authorities and safety advocates.

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At a recent seminar organised by the Road Safety Network (RSN) in collaboration with IIT Delhi and IIT Kharagpur, experts highlighted that 1,578 fatal crashes were recorded in Delhi in 2025, a figure that reflects persistent risks on city roads.

Transport specialists argue that speed is one of the most significant factors in road crash severity.

Research shows that even a small increase in average vehicle speed can raise the risk of injury and fatal collisions because:

• Drivers have less time to react to hazards.
• Stopping distances increase rapidly as speed rises.
• Crash forces grow exponentially, increasing the likelihood of serious injury or death.  

In the context of Delhi, where traffic mixes heavy vehicles, cars, two-wheelers, and pedestrians, controlling speed is especially vital.

Experts at the seminar proposed a tiered speed framework to improve road safety:

• 30 km/h in residential streets, school zones, and areas with heavy pedestrian activity.
• 40 km/h on mixed-use urban roads.
• 50 km/h on major city arterials where appropriate.  

They argued that lower limits in “red zones”, areas with high crash rates can reduce fatalities without significantly increasing travel times in the already congested city. 

Although some road safety reports indicate slight declines in crash numbers over long periods, Delhi’s fatal crashes remain unacceptably high, especially in dense zones and key transport corridors. 

Additional traffic police data show that hundreds of pedestrians and other vulnerable road users are killed each year in Delhi, a strong indication that improved speed management could save lives. 

Experts emphasise that speed reduction is not just a rule change, it must be paired with better enforcement, road design changes, and public education.

Road Design and Enforcement

Safety authorities stress that lower speed limits should go hand-in-hand with:

• Clear road signs and city planning that supports safe speeds.
• Technology-assisted enforcement such as speed cameras and automated tickets.
• Traffic calming designs, such as speed humps and narrower lanes, which physically encourage slower driving.  

These measures work together to reduce risky behaviours and protect vulnerable users especially pedestrians and cyclists.

What This Means for Road Users

If adopted, the proposed speed framework could:

• Reduce crash severity in high-risk zones.
• Lower the number of fatalities and serious injuries.
• Improve livability and pedestrian safety in urban communities.

Road safety professionals stress that speed management is one of the fastest and most effective ways to save lives on busy roads.