Stray animals appearing suddenly on highways—especially at night—have long been one of India’s most serious road safety challenges. To tackle this issue proactively, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has launched a new technology-driven initiative that alerts drivers before a potential accident occurs.

As part of Road Safety Month 2026, NHAI has rolled out a pilot real-time stray cattle alert system. The pilot is currently operational on two high-risk corridors: the Jaipur–Agra and Jaipur–Rewari national highways, which have a history of frequent stray animal movement.

How the early warning system works

When a vehicle approaches a marked cattle-prone zone, the driver receives an alert around 10 kilometres in advance.

• First, a flash SMS is sent

• This is followed by a voice alert

The message warns:

“Stray animal-prone area ahead. Please drive slowly and carefully.”

To avoid alert fatigue, the same user will not receive another warning for the next 30 minutes, even if they pass through multiple marked zones.

Why this initiative matters

According to official road safety data, national highways account for a disproportionately high number of fatal accidents. Poor visibility due to fog, rain, or night driving—combined with stray animals suddenly crossing the road—has made highways in northern India particularly dangerous.

Experts believe that even a few seconds of advance warning can significantly reduce impact speed, giving drivers enough time to slow down or manoeuvre safely.

Technology behind the system

The alert mechanism is based on:

• Historical accident data

• On-ground inputs from highway authorities

• Identification of cattle-prone stretches

The platform supporting this initiative has been upgraded by Reliance Jio, making it scalable for future nationwide deployment.

What happens next?

NHAI will closely study the pilot’s outcomes, including:

• Reduction in accidents

• Changes in driver behaviour

If results are positive, the system could be expanded to other national highways across India where stray animal incidents are common.

Earlier, road safety relied mainly on signboards and reflectors. This initiative marks a shift toward mobile-based, real-time intervention—a preventative approach rather than a reactive one.

The bigger picture

Government data shows that although national highways make up only about 2 percent of India’s road network, they account for over 30 percent of road accident deaths.

• 2024: 1,77,177 road accident deaths (≈485 deaths per day)

• Jan–June 2025: 26,770 deaths on national highways alone (as informed to Parliament by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways)

These figures underline a critical reality: road safety today needs technology-led solutions, not just better roads or stricter rules.