On June 24, the Government approved the Motor Vehicle (Amendment), Bill. The bill proposes a hefty penalty upto Rs 10,000 for violation of traffic norms, not giving way to emergency vehicles and for driving without a license. 

Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill

The bill seeks to amend more than five dozens of sections and add 20 new sections to the Act. The motive behind the amendment is to renovate the transportation rules and maintain road safety and combat corruption through some strict measures, better technology and substantial penalties. 

The Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi approved the Motor Vehicle Bill, proposing high penalties over violation of traffic norms. The proposals were recommended by the transport ministers of as many as 18 states.

To ensure road safety, stricter provisions for violations like juvenile driving, driving without a license, dangerous driving, drunken driving, over speeding and overloading have been proposed. 

Stringent Penalties

For violating driving licenses, a fine of Rs 1 Lakh will be imposed. For overspeeding, a penalty of Rs 1000- Rs 2000 will be charged.

As per the bill, driving without a license will be a punishable offence with a Rs 2000 fine and driving without a helmet will carry Rs 1000 fine and suspension for three months. Traffic violations will now cost Rs 500, instead of Rs 100, and disobedience of orders of authorities will attract a minimum penalty of Rs 2000 in place of Rs 500.

Drunken driving under the revised law would incur a penalty of Rs 10,000. Those not wearing seatbelts will have to pay a penalty of Rs 1000. The penalties also include cancellation of the registration of the vehicle if a juvenile commits a road offence. The guardian of the minor will also be considered guilty. 

The bill also mentions the maximum liability for third-party insurance of ₹10 lakh in case of any fatality and ₹5 lakh in case of serious injury because of an accident.

The driving training has also been made strict under the proposed law — guidelines to rescue and help road accident victims have been mentioned in detail in the bill.  All the commuters on the road will now get compulsory insurance for inevitable accidents, but a six-month time limit has been put on the claims.

For any offences committed by the authorities, the penalty has been proposed to double. 

The bill will also have the provision to promote alternative technology and innovation, focusing on the promotion of electric to mitigate pollution.

Aadhar To Be Compulsory For Driving License

The government will introduce the amendment in the three-decade-old Motor Vehicles Bill in the forthcoming session of Parliament. 

If the amendments are made into a reality, Aadhar will also become compulsory for getting a driving license for vehicle registration. The time limit for renewing the license will increase to a year before or after the expiry date.

The New Motor Vehicles Bill passed the Lok Sabha in 2017 and was introduced in the Upper House.  It was then moved to a select panel. The bill was re-introduced in the Rajya Sabha after incorporating the panel’s recommendation, but the debate on the law did not conclude, and since then the bill has been in limbo.

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