The Centre’s new draft Motor Vehicle Bill, aimed at curbing increasing traffic violations, proposes steep penalties of up to Rs 3 lakh fine and imprisonment for a term not less than seven years for death of a child under certain circumstances.
The draft Road Safety and Transport Bill, 2014, was unveiled by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Saturday to seek comments from stakeholders, including state governments.
The draft bill proposes to levy a fine of Rs 5 lakh per vehicle as well as imprisonment for faulty manufacturing design, besides cancellation of licence for rash and negligent driving. The bill proposes a penalty of up to Rs 1 lakh or imprisonment for six months which may extend to one year or both in case of using a vehicle in unsafe conditions.
For drunk driving, the first offence will attract Rs 25,000 fine, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or with both, and a six-month licence suspension.
The second offence within three years will result in a Rs 50,000 penalty or imprisonment for up to one year or both, and a one year licence suspension.
“Any subsequent offence shall result in the cancellation of the licence, and impounding of the vehicle which may extend to 30 days,” it said.
The bill, which proposes punishment on a par with several developed countries, will be introduced in the winter session of Parliament, said Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari.
If school bus drivers are caught driving drunk, a fine of Rs 50,000 will be imposed with imprisonment for three years, while licences of drivers in the age-group of 18 to 25, who are involved in such offences, will be cancelled immediately.
Violating traffic signal three times will result in a fine of Rs 15,000, along with licence cancellation for a month and a compulsory refresher training. It also provides for graded point system for imposing fines.
As per the draft bill, there will be an independent agency called Motor Vehicle Regulation and Road Safety Authority of India. Motor vehicles will be regulated through improved designs and simplified single-window automated driving licence systems.
