Head’s up, people! The central government has approved an amended motor bill to tame the offenders on India’s roads. What’s the quickest way to discipline? By enforcing hefty penalties! If practised ethically, it should bring the number of accidents, offences and fatalities down. In other words, jacking-up challan amounts should make roads safer for everyone, including those who are on foot.

Right then, what kind of penalties have been proposed?

• A Rs 10,000 fine for those who don’t give way to emergency vehicles. Oh, yeah!
• The same amount of fine could be slapped on to someone who is driving a vehicle despite disqualification (people with suspended or cancelled licences).
• Those who violate driving licences could be fined up to Rs 1 lakh. An example would be driving a commercial vehicle with a driving licence valid only for personal vehicles.
• For those who don’t bother about speed limits, penalties in the range of Rs 1,000-2,000 have been devised.
• Driving a vehicle without any insurance cover could be punishable with a Rs 2,000 fine.

• Riding a motorcycle without helmets could attract a Rs 1,000 challan and a three-month suspension of driving licence.
• In case a juvenile is caught breaking a traffic rule, the guardian/owner shall be held responsible with a fine of Rs 25,000, cancellation of vehicle registration and imprisonment of three years.
• A minimum of Rs 500 fine, up from Rs 100, could be slapped on for traffic violations.
• For those who are caught without a seatbelt fastened, a fine of Rs 1,000 has been proposed.
• Not obeying the enforcing authorities could attract a minimum challan of Rs 2,000, up from Rs 500.

• Penalty for unauthorised use of vehicles without a licence has been proposed at Rs 5,000.
• The same amount of fine could be applicable to those driving without a valid licence.
• Dangerous driving may attract a fine of Rs 5,000, up from Rs 1,000.
• The bill proposes a fine of Rs 10,000 for drunken driving.
• Overloading a vehicle may attract a fine of Rs 20,000.

What about offenders from enforcing authorities? Well, the bill proposes that for any such violator, all of the above-mentioned challans will be double. Apart from proposing increased penalties for nearly all kinds of traffic violations, the amended motor vehicle bill also focuses on improving driving training processes. The changes have been proposed by a committee of 18 state transport ministers and to get the green light, the amended bill should be presented in the forthcoming session of Parliament.

Source: PTI