By Admin 
In India, 18 thousand deaths occurred in 2022 on walking in the wrong direction on the road. Even if you follow the traffic rules, it can still be wrong. Because we have been taught to walk to left from childhood. But now this rule can change. The Supreme Court, while hearing a petition, sought a response from the government whether the place can be left on the right side in India or not.
So let’s understand in ABP Expluser what is the matter of right-left walking in the Supreme Court, are the rules going to change in India and in which direction people in countries around the world go …
Question 1- What is the case of left or right hand running in the Supreme Court?
answer- In 2019, a petition was filed by Jabalpur social activist Gyan Prakash. It was about safety and production of passengers on national highways. The petition demanded the practice of running the left side on the road as wrong and implementing the rule of changing it and running the right side like abroad. The petition stated …
- Pedestrians in India traditionally run on the left side, which is unsafe in the Left Hand Traffic ie LHT system. This increases the risk of collision from vehicles coming from behind.
- Gyan Prakash, citing his book ‘Traffic Education’, said that pedestrians should run the right side, as is done abroad.
In 2022, out of 50 thousand road accidents, 18 thousand i.e. 36% of deaths occurred. - Based on the 2017 Road Accidents in India report, walking on the left side does not see the vehicle coming from behind, due to which more than 30% of pedestrian accidents occur. Walking on the right side can see the passenger traffic and avoid danger.
- The petition demanded that the Motor Vehicle Act 1988 should be amended and make rights mandatory for pedestrians. Also run awareness campaigns in schools and public places.
Question 2- What did the Supreme Court say while hearing this petition?
answer- Supreme Court Judge Abhay S. The bench of Oka asked the Central Government and the National Highway Authority of India i.e. NHAI whether in India, like abroad, pedestrians can be made a rule to walk on the right of the road. The court directed both sides to give detailed answers with all the facts and data by 10 November.
The Supreme Court also reminded that it had instructed to remove traffic control and road encroachment on 21 May 2025, but it did not work. The court has asked whether a ‘ride walking system’ can be implemented in a densely populated country like India.
Question 3- So is it better and safe to walk right side?
answer- Yes. For pedestrians, walking by facing the right side of the road, is considered to be more secure in India’s left hand traffic …
- Trains run in India, ie on the left part of the road. Walking on the right side can see the trains coming to the pedestrian. This makes it easier to guess and rescue the danger. Walking on the left side does not show vehicles coming from behind, which increases the risk of collision.
- World Health Organization ie WHO and International Security Guidelines say that the pedestrians should always face traffic. In Australia, it is written on signboards, ‘Walk facing traffic i.e. traffic.’
- According to experts, India has only 30% pavement and about 95% people run on the left side. Time and education is needed to change it. For this, the right side in the traffic law will have to make it mandatory instead of suggestions. Right side walking is much better, but only when there is pavement, awareness and legal strictness. It will remain incomplete without infrastructure.
Question 4- Which countries around the world follow the right side and left side?
answer- There are two types of traffic systems in countries around the world. A left hand traffic means LHT and Right Hand Traffic i.e. RHT.
1. Left hand traffic
In this, vehicles walk on the left side of the road. The driver’s seat is mostly on the right side. This rule applies in many countries of the world.
- Asia: India, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau.
- Africa: South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana and Swaziland.
- Oshinia: Australia, New Zealand, Fiji Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands.
- Europe: United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, Cyprus, Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man.
- Caribbean: Jamaica, Bahamas, Barbados, Antigua and Babuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincents.
- Other: Mauriti, Seychelles, Brunei and Timot-Last.
2. Right Hand Traffic
In this, the vehicles run on the right side of the road and the driver’s seat is on the left side. This rule is applicable in many countries of the world …
- North America: United States of America, Canada and Mexico.
- Europe: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Russia, Poland and Portugal.
- Asia: China, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turks, Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.
- South America: Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Columbia and Venezuela.
- Africa: Nigeria, Algeria, Morocco, Ethiopia, Ghana and Egypt.
- Other: Countries like Jordan and Iraq, Mongolia and Taiwan of Middle East.