SC Considers Pan-India Guidelines to Curb Expressway Accidents, Illegal Dhabas

• Supreme Court mulls pan-India guidelines to prevent road accidents on expressways and national highways.
• Illegal "dhabas" on highways are flagged as a possible cause of accidents, prompting the SC to seek rules for action against them.
• NHAI stated local district magistrates are responsible for removing illegal eateries, not the NHAI directly.
• The court aims to fill gaps in existing provisions and ensure implementation to prevent accidents like the recent one in Rajasthan's Phalodi.
• The SC took suo-motu cognisance after 15 people died in a Phalodi accident involving a tempo traveller and a stationary truck.

Why It Matters: Your highway travel could become safer with new Supreme Court guidelines.