The Supreme Court has issued directives to the central government and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) to consider a series of measures aimed at curbing uninsured vehicles on Indian roads. Among the suggestions, the court proposed initiating a pilot project that would deny petrol and diesel sales to vehicles operating without valid third-party insurance. The intervention follows court observations that approximately 56 percent of vehicles nationwide are currently running without insurance, causing severe delays in compensating accident victims.
Automated Detection via Surveillance Cameras
To streamline enforcement, the court recommended integrating Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras directly with insurance databases. Under this proposed mechanism, cameras detecting uninsured vehicles on the road would automatically trigger digital traffic challans.
Alongside automated surveillance, the court suggested equipping traffic police officers with handheld devices to perform on-the-spot insurance verification during routine road checks.
Long Term Mandates and Pending Claims
The Supreme Court directed authorities to consider making long-term third-party insurance mandatory for new vehicles to ensure sustained compliance over time.
Additionally, the bench emphasized the urgent need to expedite the settlement of old motor accident compensation cases, noting that the current prevalence of uninsured vehicles leaves victims waiting years to receive financial relief.
Heightened Restrictions for Vehicle Owners
If these proposed measures are formally implemented, driving without valid insurance will result in automated penal action and restricted access to fuel pumps. Authorities and regulatory bodies are expected to evaluate the feasibility of the pilot projects and technological integration outlined by the court.
