License suspension for no-helmet, upto Rs 50k fine for drunken driving: 5 key features of the new Motor Vehicles Bill
License suspension for no-helmet, upto Rs 50k fine for drunken driving: 5 key features of the new Motor Vehicles Bill
License suspension for no-helmet, upto Rs 50k fine for drunken driving: 5 key features of the new Motor Vehicles Bill
The primary highlight of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill is to address the issue of reckless driving in the country. The legislature seeks to correct this by introducing stricter fines as a preventive measure against reckless driving, drunk driving, etc.
The Bill provides for compensation on the basis of no-fault liability, scheme for the treatment of accident victims during the golden hour and provides for increase in the compensation to accident victims to five lakh rupees in the case of death and two and a half lakh rupees in the case of grievous hurt. It, however, does not stop the victims to approach courts for higher compensation.
License suspension for no-helmet, upto Rs 50k fine for drunken driving: 5 key features of the new Motor Vehicles Bill
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has put the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill up for consideration at the Lok Sabha. Primarily, the legislation comes with fresh amendments that can slap reckless drivers with a hefty monetary cost plus suspension or impounding of licence. The Bill is being hailed as a landmark in establishing strict vigilance on unruly traffic in the country and streamlining transport.
In case you wanted a sneak peek into the new fine structures, here’s a preview.
1. Checking reckless driving
The primary highlight of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill is to address the issue of reckless driving in the country. The legislature seeks to correct this by introducing stricter fines as a preventive measure against reckless driving, drunk driving, etc.
Fancy this: drinking and driving will attract a fine of Rs 10,000 for first offence and if you venture to commit it again within three years of first offence it will attract a penalty of Rs 50,000. You can be fined Rs 5,000 for racing on the road for first offence and Rs 10,000 for second. Parking on public road causing impediment to traffic can make you pay Rs 500 per hour plus removal charges. Using mobile phones while driving will attract fine of Rs 5,000.
2. Measures against cases of irresponsible driving by juveniles
Additionally, in cases of traffic violations by juveniles, the guardian/owner of the car will be held responsible, unless they can prove the offence was committed without their knowledge or they tried to prevent it. The juvenile will be tried under the Juvenile Justice Act. The registration of the vehicle involved will stand cancelled. In case of surrender of licence because of any violation, the driver will not be authorised until he/she gets back the licence.
As a wider measure to check irresponsibility among citizens, and to instill humanitarian gestures, the Bill also penalises a vehicle for not giving way to emergency services like the ambulence. Most of the fines have been hiked almost ten times.
3. New rules in issuing Driving Licence
To keep the drivers under tight leash and not to escape the law, the bill proposes a National Register of Driving Licences under the central government. This national register will subsume all States Registers of Driving Licences and will see that no driving licence issued or renewed under the Act shall be valid unless it has been issued a unique driving licence number under the National Register of Driving Licences. The amendment makes the use of Aadhaar number mandatory for applying for driving licence and vehicle registrations.
It reduces the current validity of the driving licence from 20 years to 10 years and for people renewing their licences after the age of 55, the validity will be only five years. However, the time limit for renewal of driving licence will be increased from current one month to one year before and after the expiry date.
4. Insurance on third party risks compulsory
The Bill provides for compensation on the basis of no-fault liability, scheme for the treatment of accident victims during the golden hour and provides for increase in the compensation to accident victims to five lakh rupees in the case of death and two and a half lakh rupees in the case of grievous hurt. It, however, does not stop the victims to approach courts for higher compensation.
It also proposes to make life easier for the Good Samaritans who wish to help in case of an accident. They need not fear the law now as the bill protects them for rendering emergency medical or non-medical care or assistance, including transporting the victim to the hospital, in good faith, voluntarily and without expectation of any reward or compensation.
5. Validates app-based cab services
The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill marks a milestone in the development of app-based transportation services in India, by validating digital cab services like Ola, Uber, and the rest. For the first time, these app-based cab service providers will be provided licences by the Government of India, and be allowed to operate under a specific administrational framework. This will streamline and legitimise services, increasing accountability, experts say. According to reports, these service providers will also be required to comply under the Information Technology Act, 2000, that deals with cybercrime and electronic commerce. The proper service guidelines for the app-based cab service providers are yet to be charted.
All this is fine, but what about Auto Rickshaw drivers being reckless, driving on the wrong side, taking more than 3 passengers without any checks from the authorities.
ReplyDeletePlease check the cyclists also driving cycles on roads despite existence of cycle tracks.
ReplyDeleteCan you elaborate where there are cycle tracks, it's like saying you should drive cars on formula 1 race track only. In my knowledge in Mumbai cycle track only exists in BKC and it's impossible ride a bicycle on it because all gutter openings are in the cycle track and there is no leveling making it impossible to ride.
DeleteSorry no offence to you, but the pathetic attitude of municipalities towards cyclists angers me.
Sir, I am from Chandigarh and talking about cycle tracks in Chandigarh.
Deleteआपका ध्यानऑटो रिक्शा, घोड़ा गाड़ी, बुग्गी बैल गाड़ी, ट्रैक्टर ट्राली, ठेला गाड़ी, ई रिक्शा आदि की ओर भी आकर्षित करना चाहेंगे जिनके कारण अनेकों दुर्घटनाओं का आगाज़ होता है।
ReplyDeleteसाथ ही हैवी गाड़ियाँ जो या तो कार लेन या ओवरटेकिंग लेन में चलती हैं उन पर तुरंत प्रभाव से कठोर कार्यवाही की जानी आवश्यक है।
ये ट्रक, बस, बड़े ट्रेलर गाड़ियाँ इन लेन में चलते हैं और अन्य गाड़ियाँ दुर्घटना का शिकार होती हैं।
The most important rule to follow is not to drive on the wrong side on one way roads. Traffic police turn a blind eye to such offenders. Public should also be sensitized on driving on the left of a road and keeping left while turning to a side road. This will prevent a lot of traffic jams.
ReplyDeleteExcellent, just what traffic cops need. More rules to increase their revenue....to look the other way. I wish he had added an independent organisation as oversight of the traffic dept. We need rigorous and impartial implementation - to have a clean and healthy road.
ReplyDelete1). What about fines & serious punishments to authorities who don't bother to control traffic, instead keep them selves busy in cell phones or chit chat with other colleagues or sitting some spot without controlling traffic or keep themselves busy in writing chalans . 2). What about punishments to poorly maintained roads, damaged roads, road dividers, poor improper arrangements of speed barkers and one ways. Government is keen in taxing , over over taxiing people. It may consider making rules to all rule makers or authorities supposed to ensure good administration and citizens with quality infrastructure.
ReplyDeleteRules are fine but where is the implementation? Kolkata - what is the rationale behind allowing 4/5 passengers in three wheeler rickshaws while only four are allowed in four wheeler taxis? Also thousands two wheeler are driven without helmets and there is rarely any checking.
ReplyDeleteOk But what about the, Rode conditions ,off traffic signals, some ware on the rode there is not indication board due to this reason most accidents are done. Then who is responsible for the same how much fine from responsible officer ??? ???
Deleteye sab rules thik hai par ...sab se pehale government aapna kaam thik se kare rood thik karaye singnal thik karaye fir le fine...rood se jaada to khadde hai
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the best information and suggestions, it is very nice and very useful to us. I appreciate the work that you have shared in this post. Outstation Cab Services in Hyderabad Keep sharing these types of articles here.
ReplyDelete