Parisar has developed an Urban Speed Management Guide for Maharashtra, designed for implementation across all municipal corporation cities in the state. According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), speeding accounts for more than 70% of road crash fatalities. In 2024, India recorded 1.77 lakh road crash deaths and 4.8 lakh crashes, with urban roads accounting for approximately 40% of these fatalities. Vulnerable road users — including pedestrians, cyclists, and two-wheeler riders — constitute a significant share of those killed on urban roads.
Urban environments are inherently complex, with diverse land uses, mixed traffic conditions, and a high presence of vulnerable road users. Despite this, speed limits are often not determined using scientific methods. The Urban Speed Management Guide seeks to bridge this gap by providing a scientific framework for setting and managing speed limits, helping create safer roads for all users.
The draft guide has been submitted to the Transport Commissioner and the Additional Director General of Police for notification. As part of the review process, consultations are being conducted with Traffic Police Commissioners under Sections 112 and 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act to seek their feedback and recommendations.
In October, a consultation was held with the Pune Traffic Police, attended by Additional Commissioner Shri Manoj Patil and DCP Shri Himmat Jadhav. They acknowledged the growing issue of unchecked speeding and expressed support for piloting the guide on select arterial roads in coordination with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).
A similar consultation with Nashik DCP (Traffic) Shri Kirithika C.M. also received positive feedback, reinforcing the need for a scientific approach to urban speed management.
