Metals, a major category of globally distributed pollutants, are natural elements that have been extracted from the earth and harnessed for human use. It is only when metals are present at excessive levels in bioavailable forms, they become potentially toxic to plants. It is important to understand the metal toxicity of roadside soil and vegetation so that we can plant appropriate species in the rehabilitation of contaminated areas and regulate metal emissions effectively. In the present review study, the research trend and important finding emerging out of them are presented.