manoj

Your wallet will get much lighter if you are a reckless driver. The government hopes to put the brakes on indisciplined driving across the country by imposing stiff penalties. And for the purpose, it brought a Bill in Parliament on Tuesday that proposes to raise fines and penalties while providing a high compensation package for victims of road accidents.

Delhi drivers need to be particularly careful as they will have to pay more than others. The city will have the highest penalties for traffic violations as Delhi High Court has mandated an across-the-board Rs 500 fine in addition to the hiked fines provided for under the Motor Vehicles Act.

This Act is now sought to be amended. Road transport minister T R Baalu has tabled the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2007, which proposes the following: While speeding could cost you Rs 400-Rs 1,000 (with a doubling of the fine for repeat violators), drunken driving could get your licence suspended for 3 months besides imprisonment of 6 months and a fine of Rs 2,000 for the first offence. A second offence could lead to imprisonment for up to 2 years or fine of Rs 2,000 or both.

Under-age driving would be slapped with a fine of Rs 1,000 and imprisonment of up to 3 months for the first offence and Rs 2,000 for a subsequent offence. Vehicles found plying without registration papers would face a hefty fine of up to Rs 10,000 for the first offence and a maximum of Rs 20,000 for a repeat offence.

The proposed legislation also authorises state governments to compound the fines if required. With an increase in the number of hit-and-run accidents, the government plans to hike accident compensation to Rs 1 lakh for death and Rs 50,000 for partial disability. The bill envisages setting up of a solatium fund for compensation to accident victims.

According to a World Bank and WHO report, more than 1.2 million people die in road crashes globally every year, of which around 92,000 deaths occur in India.
Source: http://epaper.timesofindia.com (Delhi Edition)
Date Of Publish: 16-May-07

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