Govt proposes Bill to recommend steep increase in penalties for traffic violators

Road Minister Nitin Gadkari introduced the Bill in the Lok Sabha; the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016 will be taken up for discussion and passing in the winter session of Parliament

The government today introduced in the Lok Sabha a Bill to amend the Motor Vehicles Act. It proposes to increase penalties for traffic violation, make it easier to get a learner's driving license and ease provisions related vehicle permits to help growth of public transport.

The Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016 will be taken up for discussion and passing in the winter session of Parliament. The amendments seek to address issues related to road safety, strengthening public transport, automation and computerization.

Every year 500,000 road accidents are reported from across India, in which 150,000 people lose their lives. India is a signatory to the Brasilia declaration and is committed to reduce the number of road accident fatalities by 50 per cent by 2020.

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari introduced the Bill in the Lok Sabha. Leader of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge demanded the Bill should be sent to a parliamentary committee for threadbare discussion. Gadkari disagreed. He said amendments have been pending for over a year and incorporate suggestions of a Group of Ministers of 18 transport ministers of various states belonging to different political parties.

The Bill proposes hefty penalties for violation of traffic norms. It recommends up to Rs 10,000 fine for drunken driving and increase in compensation from Rs 25,000 to Rs 200,000 for hit-and-run cases.

The bill also provides compensation of up to Rs 1 million in the case of road fatalities. Fine for speeding would range from Rs 1000 to 4000, driving without insurance will be punishable with Rs 2,000 fine and/or three- month imprisonment, while driving a two-wheeler without helmet will attract Rs 2,000 fine and 3-month suspension of license.

The provisions also include that guardian/owner will be deemed to be guilty in case of road offense by juveniles while registration of the vehicle will be cancelled.

Of the 223 sections of the present Motor Vehicle Act, the fresh Bill seeks to amend 68 sections. Chapter 10 of the old Bill is being deleted and a Chapter 11 is being replaced with new provisions to simplify third party insurance claims and settlement process. It has also proposed to insert 28 new sections. The Bill proposes that the State Government can specify a multiplier, not less than one and not greater than ten, to be applied to each fine under this Act and such modified fine.

Some of the highlights include permitting states to grant exemptions in stage carriage and contract carriage permits for promoting rural transport, public transport and last mile connectivity.

The bill proposes that the State Government can regulate the activities in a public place of pedestrians and such means of transport. It will also enable enabling online learning licenses, increasing validity period for driving licenses and doing away with the requirements of educational qualifications for transport licenses if the candidate has a certificate from a motor driving institute.

To improve the registration process for new vehicles, registration at the end of the dealer is being enabled and restrictions have been imposed on temporary registration.

Proposed amendments

* Introduce online learning licence

* Simplify insurance provisions for early help to victims, families

* Increase renewal deadline for driving licences from one month to six months

* Increase period of renewal of transport licence from three to five years

* Allow license differently abled

* Allow states to relax provisions related to permits to boost public transport

* Increase fines and penalties for traffic violations

* To make a provision for protection of good Samaritans

* To create national registries for driving licence and vehicle registration