Minors, parents to face strict penalty for traffic violations

Drunken driving and other traffic violations by minors are likely to attract huge penalties and imprisonment, even for their parents, with the states recommending strict punishment for breach of traffic rules.
A group of state ministers, headed by Rajasthan Transport Minister Yunus Khan, today unanimously agreed to framing strict penalties for offences like driving by minors, crossing speed limits, drunk driving, talking over phone while driving and jumping traffic lights.
The group in its recommendations submitted to Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari also suggested online learning licences henceforth, besides uniform forms for transport issues across the country and extending the timeframe for driving licences.

"We have recommended stricter penalties for traffic rule violations and bringing parents of juveniles too under penalty provisions. The amount of the penalty and punishment is yet to be fixed and will be done after proper study of Cr PC and IPC provisions," Khan told reporters after the first meeting of the GoM.
After failing to push new road safety bill in Parliament due to opposition from the states, the Centre constituted the group of ministers (GoM) for framing stricter traffic rules.
The next meeting of the GoM would be held in Bangalore on May 20 followed by a meeting to finalise proposals on June 10.

Gadkari said that once the recommendations are finalised these will be sent to the Cabinet for approval and subsequently be introduced in Parliament for passage.

The recommendations come close on heels of Delhi Police this month arresting a Mercedes car owner whose minor son allegedly knocked dead a 32-year-old marketing executive in north Delhi's Civil Lines area on April 4.
The GoM also unanimously agreed on a proposal that entailed spot registration of vehicles at dealers point besides simplification of forms, Khan said.
Also, it recommended fitting all public vehicles with GPS, camera, broad band and other such features without which vehicles would not be allowed to be registered.

"There would be special provisions to check over speeding and those violating it would be subjected to stricter penalties," Khan said, adding that the recommendations will be in the public domain and after comments from stakeholders a final decision would be taken by the GoM by June 10.