Cabinet approves road safety bill; drunken driving to attract Rs 10,000 penalty

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the road safety bill which proposes hefty penalties on violation of traffic norms.

"The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016. It is a historical step towards making our roads safe and save lakhs of innocent lives," Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari told PTI after the meeting.

Under the new approved bill, drunken driving will attract a huge penalty of up to Rs 10,000 while those over-speeding will be fined between Rs 1,000-4,000, the ministery informed.

 

Steep penalty of up to Rs 10,000 proposed for drunken driving; Rs 1,000-4,000 for over-speeding in amended Bill: Nitin Gadkari. — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 3, 2016

He said the proposals are based on the recommendations of transport ministers from 18 states, and the bill includes penalties in the range of Rs 1000-Rs 4000 for over-speeding.

As per the bill, driving without insurance will be punishable with Rs 2,000 fine and/or three-month imprisonment, while driving without helmets will attract Rs 2,000 fine and 3-month suspension of licence.

In matters related to hit-and-run cases, the Cabinet has increased the compensation from Rs 25,000 to Rs 2 lakh and up to Rs 10 lakh in case of fatality.

 

Compensation for hit-and-run cases hiked from Rs 25,000 to Rs 2 lakh; up to Rs 10 lakh in case of fatality. — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 3, 2016

Guardian or owner will be deemed guilty in case of road offence by juveniles and the vehicle registration cancelled, as per the bill.

As per the new provisions "guardian/owner shall be deemed to be guilty and there will be a penalty of Rs 25,000 with three years imprisonment and cancellation of registration of the Motor Vehicle."

Traffic violations also would now attract a penalty of Rs 500 in place of Rs 100 earlier while disobedience of orders of authorities will attract a minimum penalty of Rs 2,000 in place of Rs 500 earlier.

Penalty for unauthorised use of vehicles without licence has been proposed at Rs 5,000 while those driving without license will have to shell out the same amount and those found driving despite disqualification would be fined a minimum Rs 10,000.

The proposal also include penalties of Rs 1,000 in case of LMV and Rs 2,000 for medium passenger vehicle.

Penalty for dangerous driving would be increased to Rs 5,000 from Rs 1,000 while drunken driving under the proposed new law would attract a fine of Rs 10,000.

"If aggregators are found violating lincencing conditions, they will be charged a sum of up to Rs 1 lakh" while overloading of vehicles would attract a penalty of Rs 20,000.

Those not wearing seat belts would attract Rs 1,000 fine and those found not wearing helmets while driving two-wheelers would be charged a penalty of Rs 1,000 while their licenses will be disqualified for three months.

In the present Motor Vehicle Act, there are 223 Sections out of which the Bill aims to amend 68 sections. The Bill also proposes insertion of 28 new sections.

"The important provisions include increase in compensation for Hit & Run cases from Rs 25,000 to Rs 2 lakh. It also has provision for payment of compensation upto Rs 10 lakh in road accidents fatalities," Gadkari said.

The Minister said amendments mainly focus on issues relating to improving road safety, citizens' facilitation while dealing with the Transport Department, strengthening rural transport, last mile connectivity and public transport, automation and computerisation and enabling online services.

He said the government is committed to reducing the accidents and fatalities by 50 percent.

The bill holds significance in the wake of India accounting for 5 lakh road accidents every year in which 1.5 lakh people lose their lives.

The bill was pending for long as many states had earlier expressed reservations saying that it may encroach upon their administrative among other rights.

"The states are on board now after a Group of Ministerial panel of 18 Transport Ministers from different political parties deliberating on the issue and recommending penalties," the Minster added.

With PTI Inputs