(Image source from: thehindu.com)

On Wednesday, the Rajya Sabha passed the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019, to revise the age-long motor vehicle law with the purpose of improving road safety, keeping corruption in regional Transport Office in check, raising penalties for traffic violations, and other measures to transform the transport sector. The Bill got 108 votes in favor and 13 against it.

The Bill, which got 108 votes in favor and 13 against it will now go back to the Lok Sabha. It was already passed by the Lower House on July 23.

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, in his reply to the members after a discussion on the Bill, put to rest the apprehensions elevated by some of the members that the proposed law encroached upon state powers and encouraged the corporate sector to take over the transport sector.

He assured the members that the Centre had no direct or indirect intention to encroach upon the powers of the states. He added that the much-needed amendments will improve road safety, facilitate citizens in their dealings with transport departments, beef up rural transport, public transport, and last-mile connectivity through computerization, automation, and online services.

The Amendments

The minimum penalty for driving without a licence - Rs 5,000

Penalty for driving despite disqualification - Rs 10,000

The parents or guardians of an underage driver shall be held guilty in case of an offense by a juvenile. A penalty of Rs 25,000 with three years imprisonment will be imposed and the juvenile will be tried under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act while the registration of the vehicle will be canceled.

Penalty for driving without a helmet - Rs 1,000

Penalty for over speeding in case of light motor vehicle - Rs 1,000

Penalty for over speeding in case of medium passenger vehicle - Rs 2,000

Penalty for Not wearing a seat belt - Rs 1,000

Penalty for not providing a way to emergency vehicles - Rs 1,000

The bill also incorporated a good samaritan guideline to help road accident victims. According to the bill, a good samaritan is a person who renders emergency medical or non-medical assistance to a victim at the scene of an accident and provides for rules to prevent harassment of such a person.

The maximum penalty for driving under influence of alcohol or drugs - Rs 2,000 to Rs 1,000

If a vehicle manufacturer fails to comply with the motor vehicle standards, the penalty will be of up to Rs 100 crore, or imprisonment of up to one year, or both.

Penalty for overloading of two-wheelers - Rs 2,000 along with disqualification of license for three months.

If a contractor fails to comply with road design standards, the penalty will be a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh. The Central Government may increase the fines every year by up to 10 percent.

The driving training process has been strengthened to enable faster issuance of transport license to help in reducing the shortage of commercial drivers in the country.

The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019, is formed on the recommendations of the Group of Transport Ministers (GoM) of states initiated by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to tackle the issue of road safety and to improve the facilitation of the citizens while handling transport departments.

By Sowmya Sangam