The International Road Federation (IRF), a global road safety body dedicated to promoting better and safer roads worldwide, has welcomed the directive issued by Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) O.P. Singh, who has instructed all police commissioners, superintendents, SHOs, and traffic officers across the state to take urgent, coordinated action to reduce road accidents and fatalities.
According to provisional data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Haryana witnessed 9,806 road accidents and 4,689 fatalities in 2024. The DGP has also reported that nearly 4,000 deaths have occurred due to road crashes till October 2025, a matter of serious concern. His directive to identify accident-prone and blind-spot areas, analyze their causes, and implement corrective safety measures has been lauded by IRF.
“DGP O.P. Singh’s proactive action plan to enhance road safety in Haryana is a positive step. Ensuring that no vehicles—especially trucks and trailers—remain parked on roads without proper reflective warning tapes or lights will significantly reduce accidents,” said Mr. K.K. Kapila, President Emeritus, International Road Federation (IRF).
He noted that the MoRTH had, in 2018, made it mandatory for all goods-carrying vehicles to use reflective tapes to enhance nighttime visibility and reduce road accidents. Under the Motor Vehicles Act, the use of retro-reflective tapes in specific colours on heavy vehicles is compulsory to alert other road users and prevent collisions.
“When trucks break down, temporary warning signs like leaves, stones, or branches are not visible at night and often lead to fatal crashes. Mandatory use of reflective tapes on trucks will help prevent such tragedies. These tapes should also be made compulsory for cars, light commercial vehicles, and motorcycles,” added Mr. Kapila.
Citing a study by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), he highlighted that the use of retro-reflective tapes can reduce side and rear crashes by over 30% at night.
India, he said, has a distressing record of accounting for nearly 12% of global road crash fatalities, the highest in the world. Thousands of lives are lost each year due to recklessly parked vehicles on highways, many with iron rods or protruding materials that cause deadly accidents.
The IRF also urged both central and state governments to make reflective tapes mandatory for tractor-trolleys and over-laden trailers, commonly used for transporting construction and agricultural materials such as sugarcane and fodder. These vehicles, which account for nearly 65% of farm produce transported to markets, are among the most vulnerable on Indian roads.
“Strict enforcement by authorities will ensure that goods carried in trucks and trailers remain within vehicle limits. At the same time, awareness campaigns are needed to educate truckers and consignees about the life-saving importance of reflective visibility,” said Mr. Kapila.
 has welcomed Haryana DGP O.P. Singh’s directive to reduce road accidents through targeted safety measures. IRF urges mandatory use of reflective tapes on all vehicles, including trucks, trailers, and tractors, to enhance night visibility and curb India’s rising road fatalities.){kind=link}