New Motor Bill: Get your driving act together

The days of negligent driving could well be a thing of the past if the 2014 Road Safety and Transport Bill is passed. The Bill proposes hefty fines not only for motorists but carmakers as well. For instance, for faulty manufacturing design, fine to the tune of Rs 5 lakh as well as imprisonment is proposed, besides cancellation of license for rash driving. 

Even jumping a red light will set you back by Rs 5,000-15,000, higher on a repeated offence and a one month license suspension. Not wearing a seatbelt, one of the most common offences done will make your wallet lighter by Rs 5,000. If caught speeding, charges levied will be between Rs 5,000-12,500 from the existing Rs 400-1000. Similar fines are set for talking on your phone. Drunk driving is a more serious offence and will cost you Rs 15,000 or a 2-year jail term. School bus drivers get a harsher Rs 50,000 fine.

In addition to fines, motorists committing a traffic offence will be given penalty points. On accumulation of 12 points, your driving license will be suspended for a year. There are also tougher fines proposed for more serious crimes – a Rs 3 lakh fine and a seven year jail term for causing the death of a child and a Rs 1 lakh fine for driving an unregistered vehicle.

It will be interesting to see how these laws are executed because in all likelihood, majority of motorists will not be able to pay the hefty fines and that could cause a chaotic situation in terms of impounds and prosecution.