Government Introduces New Guidelines for Radar Speed Measurement Devices

New Delhi, April 18 (NationPress) On Friday, the government announced new guidelines for radar instruments used to assess the speed of vehicles, aiming to enhance road safety and promote equity in traffic law enforcement.

The guidelines, issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs, mandate that all radar-based speed measurement devices be verified and certified by Legal Metrology authorities, as per an official announcement.

These regulations will take effect on July 1, 2025, allowing ample time for industries and enforcement bodies to adhere to the new standards, the announcement indicated.

This initiative guarantees that such devices are accurate, properly calibrated, and legally compliant, which will improve transparency, build public trust, and uphold enforcement integrity. Verified radar systems are crucial for applications involving traffic speed monitoring, accident prevention, and reducing wear on road infrastructure, the announcement detailed.

Radar devices utilize technologies such as Doppler radar to measure vehicle speed with exceptional accuracy. These guidelines outline comprehensive technical and safety specifications, ensuring proper calibration, stable function under diverse environmental conditions, and protection against tampering. Such initiatives will cultivate a culture of technological reliability and legal accountability, the announcement stated.

The formulation of these guidelines was carried out by a committee with technical contributions based on the international standard OIML R 91. In the process, input was gathered from stakeholders, including state Legal Metrology Departments, Regional Reference Standard Laboratories (RRSLs), manufacturers, and consumer organizations, through presentations and public feedback prior to finalizing the guidelines.

The adoption of these guidelines offers substantial benefits to all stakeholders involved. For the average citizen, the obligatory verification and stamping of radar-based speed measurement instruments will guarantee accurate enforcement of speed limits, thus preventing unfair penalties and greatly enhancing road safety. Citizens can drive with increased assurance knowing that enforcement relies on scientifically validated and legally certified tools, the announcement explained.

For law enforcement agencies, the introduction of verified and stamped devices ensures a higher level of operational effectiveness and credibility. These devices facilitate reliable, evidence-based enforcement, which is essential for maintaining public trust and enhancing compliance with speed regulations. The availability of certified and calibrated instruments empowers officers to operate with confidence and precision, the announcement added.

For industries, particularly those engaged in producing radar-based speed measuring devices, the new guidelines create a clear technical and regulatory framework consistent with international standards like OIML R 91. This not only stimulates domestic innovation and compliance but also boosts the export competitiveness of Indian manufacturers in global markets by ensuring consistency in quality and performance, as stated in the announcement.

At the national level, this initiative represents a crucial step towards data-driven governance in traffic management. It aids in lowering road fatalities, improving discipline on highways, and supporting sustainable economic growth by reducing the social and economic repercussions linked with road accidents, vehicle deterioration, and damage to infrastructure. Overall, the guidelines contribute to establishing a safer and more technologically advanced transport ecosystem in the country.

This development signifies a major advancement in India's ongoing reforms aimed at modernizing the legal metrology framework, ensuring that instruments used in public enforcement are scientifically robust and legally verifiable, the announcement concluded.