The Union Transport Ministry has approved a proposal which mandates that all truck cabins shall be air-conditioned from 2025 onwards. This will provide much needed succour to drivers who often spend up to 14 hours driving vehicles in hot and humid conditions.
To put matters into perspective, in the USA and other advanced nations truckers by law can not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. They can only resume driving after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.
Harsh work conditions and inhumanely long service hours on Indian highways are major reasons for driver exhaustion and subsequently major accidents.
This proposal had been in the works since 2016 but was put on the backburner as there was concerted opposition from the heavy vehicle industry mavens. This is a praiseworthy move by the government.
