Special Rules Near Schools and Hospitals
Reduce to 25–30 km/h. No horn. School buses have right of way.
Near schools and hospitals: reduce speed to 25–30 km/h, do not use horn, and give way to school buses and ambulances. These are legally designated protection zones.
Penalty Under Law
Speed violation near school: Sec. 183. Horn use: ₹1,000 (Sec. 190(2)). School bus violation: Sec. 177.
Legal Source
MV Act Sec. 112, 183, 190(2); Noise Pollution Rules 2000; MoRTH School Bus Guidelines
What the Law Says
MoRTH guidelines require a 30 km/h speed limit within 150 metres of school entrances on school days. Noise Pollution Rules 2000 designate areas within 100 metres of hospitals, schools, and courts as "silence zones" where horn use is prohibited. School buses when stationary at a stop are to be treated as a stopped emergency vehicle — traffic must not overtake from the left (the alighting side).
💡 Why This Rule Exists
Children are the most vulnerable and least predictable road users. They may dart into traffic, step off a bus without checking, and generally have poor road safety awareness. The combination of reduced speed, no horn (so drivers must rely on alertness rather than horn), and mandatory yields for buses creates a protected environment for children's daily commute.
Key Facts
- 1
Speed limit within 150m of schools during school hours: 25–30 km/h.
- 2
Silence zone: 100m radius from hospital, school, or court.
- 3
School buses must have: speed governor (60 km/h limit), CCTV, GPS tracker, first aid box, emergency door.
- 4
School buses must display "School Bus" sign in Hindi and English.
- 5
Do not overtake a school bus that has stopped to board/alight children.
- 6
Schools must have physical traffic calming: speed bumps, zigzag markings, and guards on high-density roads.
⚠️ Common Violations
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Honking outside school gates in the morning rush.
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Overtaking from the left of a stopped school bus.
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School buses operating without mandatory safety equipment.
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Speeding through school zones because it's a weekend ("school is closed").
Frequently Asked Questions
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More Speed Limits Rules
Speed Limits in Urban and City Areas
The default speed limit inside city/town limits in India is 50 km/h for cars and light motor vehicles. In school and hospital zones the limit may be 25–30 km/h.
LMV overspeeding: ₹1,000–₹2,000 (Sec
Speed Limits on National and State Highways
Cars may travel at up to 100 km/h on undivided highways and 120 km/h on expressways. Trucks and buses are capped at 65–80 km/h. Motorcycles: 60 km/h on highways.
LMV: ₹1,000–₹2,000