Lok Sabha Question No. 3138 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-07
Subject: Road Accidents due to High-Beam Headlights
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri Asaduddin Owaisi

be pleased to state:

- (a)    whether the Government maintains data on road accidents due to blinding effect of highbeam headlights during night-time driving and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the number of such accidents reported during the last three years, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has laid down any standards for headlights in vehicles and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government is aware of the rising number of  nighttime road accidents reported on National Highways in recent years and if  so,  the  details  thereof,  including  annual  data  during  the  last  five years;
- (e) whether any assessment has been undertaken regarding lighting infrastructure on highways and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the steps  being taken  to ensure  adequate  illumination  and visibility on National Highways?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a), (b) and (d)    The Government publishes report on 'Road Accidents in India' based on data received from States/ UTs. As per data received from the States/UTs, road accidents are multi-causal phenomenon and are  the  result  of  interplay  of  various  factors.  These  can  broadly  be categorized into (i) human error, (ii) road condition/environment and (iii) vehicular condition.

Data on road accidents due to blinding effect of  highbeam headlights during night-time driving is not maintained by the Government.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3138 ANSWERED ON 7 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## ROAD ACCIDENTS DUE TO HIGH-BEAM HEADLIGHTS

3138.         SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

However, as per above-said report, the total number of road accidents on all categories of roads in the country during calendar year 2018 to 2022  classified  according  to  time  of  the  day  including  night  time  is given in the table below : -

| Accidents classified according to Time of Occurrence   | Accidents classified according to Time of Occurrence   |   Accidents classified according to Time of Occurrence |   Accidents classified according to Time of Occurrence |   Accidents classified according to Time of Occurrence |   Accidents classified according to Time of Occurrence |   Accidents classified according to Time of Occurrence |
|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
| Time                                                   | Time                                                   |                                                   2018 |                                                   2019 |                                                   2020 |                                                   2021 |                                                   2022 |
| 06-900hrs                                              | (Day)                                                  |                                                  52407 |                                                  50119 |                                                  40431 |                                                  43370 |                                                  48304 |
| 09-1200hrs                                             | (Day)                                                  |                                                  70328 |                                                  68267 |                                                  55474 |                                                  61387 |                                                  65664 |
| 12-1500hrs                                             | (Day)                                                  |                                                  71665 |                                                  68361 |                                                  56570 |                                                  63139 |                                                  67979 |
| 15-1800hrs                                             | (Day)                                                  |                                                  81297 |                                                  78935 |                                                  65676 |                                                  73467 |                                                  79637 |
| 18-2100hrs                                             | (Night)                                                |                                                  85940 |                                                  86503 |                                                  74198 |                                                  85179 |                                                  94009 |
| 21-2400hrs                                             | (Night)                                                |                                                  50171 |                                                  50016 |                                                  37693 |                                                  41092 |                                                  52915 |
| 00-300hrs                                              | (Night)                                                |                                                  26688 |                                                  24827 |                                                  18466 |                                                  19682 |                                                  23471 |
| 03-600hrs                                              | (Night)                                                |                                                  27537 |                                                  26527 |                                                  19782 |                                                  20120 |                                                  24152 |
| Unknown Time                                           | Unknown Time                                           |                                                   4370 |                                                   3404 |                                                   3891 |                                                   4996 |                                                   5181 |
| Total Accidents                                        | Total Accidents                                        |                                                 470403 |                                                 456959 |                                                 372181 |                                                 412432 |                                                 461312 |

- (c)    The Government in Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has mandated  the  various  Automotive  Industry  Standard  (AIS)  for  head lights, which inter-alia includes the following :
-  AIS  008:2010  Installation  Requirements  of  Lighting  and  Light  Signalling Devices for Motor Vehicle.
-  AIS-009: 2001 (Rev.3) : Automotive Vehicles -Installation Requirements of Lighting and Light-signalling Devices for Two and Three  Wheeled  Motor  Vehicles,  and  E-Rickshaw/E-Cart  vehicles, their Trailers and Semi-Trailers.
-  AIS-010 (Part 2) (Rev.1):2010: Provisions concerning the Approval of Headlamps emitting a Symmetrical Passing Beam or a Driving Beam  or  Both  and equipped  with Filament  Lamps  or  GasDischarge Light Sources.
- (e)  and  (f)    Lighting  on  the   National  Highways  is  provided  as  per provisions given in Indian Road Congress (IRC) guidelines and various manuals/  specifications  prescribed  by  the  Government.  Generally  all the locations such as built-up section areas, toll plaza areas, truck lay byes,  rest  areas,  bus  bay&  bus  shelter  locations,  grade  separated structures, interchanges, flyovers, underpasses (vehicular & pedestrian),  overpasses  and  any  other  locations  specified  in  the contract/ concession agreements read in conjunction with IRC SP 84/87 are illuminated.

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