Some streets need a different kind of driving. On a one-way street, traffic comes from only one direction, and pedestrians and drivers coming out of side roads may not expect you from the other. In residential lanes and near schools and hospitals, children, older people and patients step out from between parked cars. This article explains the rules for one-way streets and how to drive where people live, learn and are treated.

India Drive Safe rule:
On a one-way street, drive only in the direction shown, never reverse into it, and never drive against the flow "just for a few metres". In residential areas and near schools and hospitals, slow right down, expect children to appear suddenly, do not use the horn and never park near the gate.

What the law says: one-way streets

  • Direction: a vehicle must not be driven on a road declared "One Way" except in the direction shown by the signs (Regulation 4(6) of the Motor Vehicles (Driving) Regulations, 2017).
  • No driving against the flow unless a traffic sign or a uniformed police officer on duty directs you to (Regulation 4(7)).
  • No reversing into a one-way road, and no reversing out onto a public road (Regulation 18(2) and (3)).
  • Penalty: driving against the authorised flow of traffic is treated as dangerous driving under Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988: 6 months to 1 year in prison and/or a fine of ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 for a first offence, and your licence can be seized.
  • Emergency vehicles: in an utmost emergency, an ambulance, fire engine or police vehicle may use a one-way or No Entry street in either direction, with utmost care (Regulation 27). Expect them.

Driving on a one-way street

  • look for the "One Way" sign and the blue arrow signs at the start, and the red No Entry sign at the other end (Rule 13);
  • on a wide one-way street you may be allowed to use any lane. Choose your lane early for your turn: to turn right, move to the right-hand side; to turn left, keep to the left;
  • vehicles may overtake you on either side, so check both mirrors before you change position (Rule 18);
  • pedestrians often look only one way before crossing, and some two-wheelers ride the wrong way. Be ready for both; and
  • if you miss your turn, go round the block. Never reverse or turn back against the flow.

What the law says: residential areas, schools and hospitals

  • Take special care of pedestrians, cyclists, children, older people and people with disabilities (Regulation 5).
  • Speed: do not exceed 25 km/h near a school, hospital or construction site where so signed, or on roads without a footpath where people walk on the carriageway, or any lower limit shown (Regulation 16(5)).
  • No overtaking where a School Zone, Hospital Zone or Construction Zone sign is shown (Regulation 14).
  • No horn: do not sound the horn continuously or repeatedly in residential areas, and not at all in a silence zone, which usually covers areas around hospitals, schools and courts (Regulation 23; Rule 27).
  • No parking near the entrance or exit of a school or hospital (Regulation 22).

Residential streets

  • drive slowly enough to stop if a child runs out from between parked cars or from a gate. Look under and between parked vehicles for small feet;
  • watch for balls, cycles and pets: a child is often close behind;
  • give way to people walking in the road where there is no footpath, and pass them slowly with plenty of space (Rule 26);
  • at night, keep your speed down and do not use the horn or high beam to clear people; and
  • reverse out of a driveway only with someone guiding you, or reverse in so that you can drive out forwards (Rule 10).

School zones

  • slow down at the School Ahead sign (Rule 13), especially at opening and closing times;
  • expect children to run across without looking, alone or to meet a parent on the other side;
  • stop for a school crossing patrol or a teacher holding up a sign;
  • take extra care around stopped school buses and vans: children may cross in front of or behind them (see Bus stops and bus lanes; Rule 23); and
  • when dropping off your own child, stop only where it is allowed, on the school side, and let them get out on the kerb side (see Passengers).

Hospital zones

  • slow down, do not overtake and do not use the horn;
  • watch for patients, wheelchairs, ambulances coming in and out, and people crossing in a hurry; and
  • keep the entrance and the emergency gate clear. Never park or wait there.

Common mistakes

"Just a few metres" the wrong way
Dangerous driving under Section 184. Go round.
Reversing into a one-way street
Prohibited by Regulation 18.
Normal speed past a school
25 km/h or less where signed.
Overtaking in a school zone
Not allowed where the sign is shown.
Horn in a hospital zone
Silence zone. No horn.
Parking at the school gate
Not allowed, and it hides children.

Remember

One way: only in the direction shown, never reverse into it, missed turn means go round → residential: slow, look between parked cars, no horn → schools and hospitals: 25 km/h where signed, no overtaking, no horn, no parking at the gate.