Kerala High Court Orders Crackdown on Vlogging in Moving Vehicles and Illegal Modifications, Citing Grave Safety Risks

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Taking a stern view of blatant road safety violations, the Kerala High Court has directed the Transport Commissioner and the State Police Chief to report on actions taken against the dangerous trend of vlogging inside the driver's cabin of moving buses and trucks, and the widespread use of illegally modified vehicles.

The Division Bench, comprising Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice Muralee Krishna S. , initiated these proceedings suo motu (on its own motion) to address the growing menace of vehicles openly flouting safety norms, thereby endangering passengers and other road users.

Context of the Case

The court's order highlighted the alarming practice of fitting contract and stage carriages with unauthorized high-intensity lights, powerful sound systems, and even alternative power sources with inverters, which are often showcased in promotional videos on YouTube and other social media platforms. The bench noted that these modifications are in direct violation of established safety standards, including AIS-008 (Installation Requirements of Lighting) and AIS-052 (Code of Practice for Bus Body Design and Approval) .

The court expressed serious concern over vloggers creating videos from the driver's compartment of moving contract carriages and heavy goods vehicles, a practice that distracts the driver and poses a significant threat to public safety.

Reliance on Supreme Court Precedent

The High Court heavily relied on the recent Supreme Court judgment in S. Rajaseekaran v. Union of India (2025) , which had addressed similar hazards. The bench quoted the Apex Court's observations on the dangers posed by: - Dazzling LED Headlights: Causing temporary visual disorientation and glare for oncoming drivers and pedestrians. - Unauthorized Red-Blue Strobe Lights & Hooters: Misused by private vehicles to create a false sense of authority, leading to panic and traffic disruptions, while undermining the effectiveness of genuine emergency services.

The High Court underscored the Supreme Court's direction in Paragraph 35.15 of the S. Rajaseekaran judgment, which mandated a complete ban on such unauthorized lights and hooters, enforced through seizures, market crackdowns, and penalties.

Court's Directives

In its order dated November 19, 2025, the Kerala High Court has specifically sought a report from the state authorities on the measures being implemented to curb these violations. The key directions are: - To detail the action taken against videography by vloggers inside the driver's cabins of moving commercial vehicles. - To report on the steps taken to prevent the use of vehicles that openly flout safety standards prescribed under AIS-008 and AIS-052. - To address the illegal installation of DJ lights, laser lights, high-power music systems, and hazardous alternative power sources within passenger vehicles.

Implications of the Order

This judicial intervention signals a zero-tolerance approach towards vehicular modifications that compromise safety for entertainment or aesthetics. By demanding accountability from the Transport Commissioner and the State Police Chief, the court aims to enforce existing safety regulations more stringently and crack down on the culture of impunity often promoted through social media. The order serves as a strong warning to vehicle owners, operators, and vloggers that such dangerous activities will not be overlooked.

The court has scheduled the matter for further hearing on November 21, 2025, to review the action-taken report from the authorities.