What is the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act in India?

The new traffic rules under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019, came into force in many states on September 1. Under the Act, heavy fines are imposed for offences such as over-spreading, driving under the influence of alcohol and driving without states are not happy with the hefty fines and have opted to reduce the quantum of fines as suggested. What is the scope of the penalties imposed under it? Let’s find out in this week’s Five Ws & One H....

The Motor Vehicles Act is an Act of Parliament which regulates all aspects of road transport vehicles. The Motor vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which sought to make changes to the 1988 Act, was passed in the Rajya Sabha in July and in the Lok Sabha in Aught. The new traffic rules with sticker penalties, under the 2019 Act, came into effect on September 1.

How have the penalties been increased under the recently amended Act?

  • The penalties for breaking traffic rules have gone up multi-fold. For driving without a license, the new fine is ?5000, which is 10 times the earlier fine of ?500.
  • The maximum penalty for driving under the influence of alcohol has been increased from ?2000 to ?10000.
  • For speeding or racing, the fine has been increased from ?500 to ?5000.
  • Not wearing a seatbelt while driving would attract a fine of ? 1000 as against the earlier fine of ?100.
  • If a vehicle manufacturer fails to comply with motor vehicle standards, the penalty will be a fine of up to ?1Lakh.
  • The Central government may increase the fines by 10% every year.

Why are the other provisions as per the new Act?

  • The new Act has extended the period for renewal of driving licenses from one moth to one year after the date of expiry.
  • The Act also promises to protect those who render emergency medical or non-medical assistance to a victim of an accident, from any civil or criminal liability.
  • The minimum compensation for death or grievous injury in hit-and-run cases has been increased from ?25000 to ?2- Lakh in case of death, and from ?12500 to ?50000 in case of grievous injury.
  • The central government will develop a scheme for cashless treatment of road accident victims during the ‘golden hour’ – the time period of up to one hour following a traumatic injury, during which the likelihood of preventing death through prompt medical care is the highest.
  • The Act requires the Central government to constitute a Motor Vehicle Accident fund, to provide compulsory insurance cover to all road users in the country.

Picture Credit : Google 

Why do some states resist the new Motor Vehicle Act?



Several states have opposed the imposition of hefty fines for traffic violations, saying it will overburden people and that it would lead to higher levels of corruption. However, the Central government says it is only a model Act and that the State governments are free to make their own laws and rules.



What are the rules that apply to juvenile drivers under the Act?



In case of accidents involving juvenile drivers, the guardian of the juvenile or the owner of the motor vehicle will be deemed quality. The guardian or owner is punishable with imprisonment for a term of three years and with a fine of ?25000. But the guardian or owner will not be liable if the juvenile has a learner’s license.



What are the states that have revised the fines?



While some States such as Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Gujarat have reduced the fines for various offences. States such as Telengana, Punjab, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have decided not to implement the Motor vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019.



Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Odisha have put the implementation on hold for now. Kerala had initially implemented the new Act, but withdrew it following protests by the people and trade unions. Tamil Nadu has announced that it will reduce the fines.



 



Picture Credit : Google


What is the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act in India?



The new traffic rules under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019, came into force in many states on September 1. Under the Act, heavy fines are imposed for offences such as over-speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and driving without states are not happy with the hefty fines and have opted to reduce the quantum of fines as suggested. What is the scope of the penalties imposed under it? 



The Motor Vehicles Act is an Act of Parliament which regulates all aspects of road transport vehicles. The Motor vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which sought to make changes to the 1988 Act, was passed in the Rajya Sabha in July and in the Lok Sabha in Aught. The new traffic rules with sticker penalties, under the 2019 Act, came into effect on September 1.



How have the penalties been increased under the recently amended Act?




  • The penalties for breaking traffic rules have gone up multi-fold. For driving without a license, the new fine is ?5000, which is 10 times the earlier fine of ?500.

  • The maximum penalty for driving under the influence of alcohol has been increased from ?2000 to ?10000.

  • For speeding or racing, the fine has been increased from ?500 to ? 5000.

  • Not wearing a seatbelt while driving would attract a fine of ? 1000 as against the earlier fine of ?100.

  • If a vehicle manufacturer fails to comply with motor vehicle standards, the penalty will be a fine of up to ?1 Lakh.

  • The Central government may increase the fines by 10% every year.



Why are the other provisions as per the new Act?




  • The new Act has extended the period for renewal of driving licenses from one moth to one year after the date of expiry.

  • The Act also promises to protect those who render emergency medical or non-medical assistance to a victim of an accident, from any civil or criminal liability.

  • The minimum compensation for death or grievous injury in hit-and-run cases has been increased from ?25000 to ?2 Lakh in case of death, and from ?12500 to ?50000 in case of grievous injury.

  • The central government will develop a scheme for cashless treatment of road accident victims during the ‘golden hour’ – the time period of up to one hour following a traumatic injury, during which the likelihood of preventing death through prompt medical care is the highest.

  • The Act requires the Central government to constitute a Motor Vehicle Accident fund, to provide compulsory insurance cover to all road users in the country.



 



Picture Credit : Google