This State Will Cancel Driving License If You Violate Zebra Crossing
Kerala has introduced one of the toughest pedestrian safety enforcements in the country, with the Motor Vehicles Department announcing that driving licences will be cancelled for drivers who violate zebra crossing rules. The move follows more than 800 pedestrian deaths in the state this year, with senior citizens accounting for about 50 percent of the fatalities.
Transport Commissioner Nagaraju Chakilam issued the directive on November 25, ordering immediate and strict enforcement of existing pedestrian safety norms. The focus is on drivers who fail to slow down at crossings or park directly on zebra stripes, which makes crossings unusable for pedestrians.
The standing rule is clear. When a pedestrian is waiting at the edge of a zebra crossing, every vehicle driver must gradually slow down and stop at least three metres before the crossing.
In practice, this basic courtesy is often ignored. The commissioner’s order treats this behaviour as a core safety issue, not just bad manners.
Under the new enforcement drive, stopping or parking on zebra crossings will draw action from both the police and Motor Vehicles Department officials. Offenders face legal action under Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act, which carries a Rs 2,000 penalty. More importantly, they risk cancellation of their driving licence, a far more serious consequence that can keep them off the road for months.
The directive makes it clear that anticipating pedestrian movement and respecting zebra crossings is now a key condition for retaining a valid licence. Drivers are expected to treat marked crossings as no-stopping zones and give pedestrians a clear, safe path across the road.
The Kerala High Court’s intervention triggered the current crackdown. On October 30, Justice Devan Ramachandran noted that vehicles routinely stop on zebra crossings and directed authorities to act. The court pointed out that reports and studies alone would not make public spaces “pedestrian safe and pedestrian worthy” unless enforcement improved.
The new push is not limited to zebra crossings alone. The Motor Vehicles Department has also flagged vehicles parked on footpaths as a serious concern, since they narrow walking space and force pedestrians onto the road. Officers have been instructed to act firmly against such violations, without leniency.
This marks a shift from earlier enforcement patterns, where minor violations often went unchecked or drew only warnings. With the latest order, pedestrian safety is being treated as a non-negotiable part of road use.
Senior citizens are at particular risk on the roads. With half of pedestrian deaths involving older people, the state has put their safety at the centre of the new measures. Reduced mobility and slower reaction times make it harder for them to cross busy roads quickly. When drivers ignore zebra crossings or park over them, the risk to elderly pedestrians increases sharply.
By reinforcing right-of-way rules at crossings and penalising blocking behaviour, the authorities hope to give older pedestrians more predictable and safer crossing points, especially in busy urban areas.
The licence cancellation provision is meant to act as a strong deterrent. While the Rs 2,000 fine under Section 184 is significant, losing a licence has a much bigger impact on daily life, especially for people who depend on their vehicle for work or commuting.
The policy also exposes gaps in driver training. Many licence holders have never been clearly taught how pedestrian right-of-way works at zebra crossings, or how far back they should stop. The threat of cancellation effectively forces drivers to learn and follow these rules if they want to keep driving legally.
Other states are watching Kerala’s approach closely. The Motor Vehicles Act already provides the legal tools needed for such enforcement, but they have rarely been used this aggressively for pedestrian protection. If Kerala’s crackdown leads to a measurable fall in pedestrian deaths, similar policies could be adopted elsewhere.
For now, the message to motorists in Kerala is straightforward. If you see a zebra crossing, you slow down, stop at the correct distance and do not block it. Ignoring that rule can now cost you your driving licence.