The government on Wednesday approved the much- awaited Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016 that proposes hefty penalties for violation of traffic norms including up to Rs 10,000 fine for drunken driving and Rs 2 lakh compensation for hit-and-run cases.
The bill includes penalties in the range of Rs 1000-Rs 4000 for over-speeding.
The bill also has provision of up to Rs 10 lakh compensation in case of road fatality.
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 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 Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as 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 said after the meeting.
He said the proposals are based on the recommendations of transport ministers from 18 states.
The provisions also include that guardian/owner will be deemed to be guilty in case of road offence by juveniles while registration of the vehicle will be cancelled.
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.
"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 per cent.
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 Ministeralpanel of 18 Transport Ministers from different political parties deliberating on the issue and recommending penalties," the Minster added.
(With PTI inputs)
