Bill to Reform Motor Vehicle Law Introduced

The government on Tuesday introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha to amend the Motor Vehicles Act.It proposes to increase the penalties for traffic rule violation, make it easier to get a learner's driving licence and ease the provisions on vehicle permits, to help growth of public transport. And, to promote automation and computerisation.

In a new provision, the guardian/owner will be deemed guilty in a road offence by a juvenile; registration of the vehicle will be cancelled and a fine of Rs. 25,000 with three years imprisonment, while the juvenile will be tried under the Juvenile Justice Act. However, it is a rare provision where a prison term has been recommended for offenders over and above monetary penalty.

The Bill will be taken for discussion and passing in the winter session of Parliament.Every year, 500,000 road mishaps are reported from across India, in which 150,000 lose their lives. India is a signatory to the Brasilia declaration on the issue of safety and is committed to reduce the number of road fatalities by 50% by 2020.

Road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari introduced the Bill. Opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge asked that it be sent to a parliamentary committee for discussion. Gadkari disagreed, saying these amendments had been pending for over a year and incorporated suggestions of a group of 18 transport ministers of various states, from different political parties.The Bill recommends up to a Rs. 10,000 fine for drunken driving and increase in compensation from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 200,000 for hit-and- run cases. It also provides compensation of up to Rs. 10 lakh for road fatalities.