Driving licence will be cancelled for reckless driving. Picture for representational purposeThe number of road accidents is on a rise only in India. The number of accidents is coming down in all other countries. In India, there is a road accident every minute. An Indian dies in a road accident every four minutes. These accidents cause a damage of about Rs 1 lakh crore a year. It is based on this data that the government is going ahead with introducing a new set of transport rules.
The Road Transport and Safety Bill, 2014 will introduce the services of two authorities.
A) Motor Vehicle Regulation and Road Safety Authority of India: This authority will issue guidelines about road safety and the regulation of vehicles. This agency will be under the control of Parliament.
B) National Road Transport and Multimodal Coordination Authority: This agency will be responsible for implementing a transport system integrating the networks in all states.
The bill will also lead to new criteria for obtaining driving licence and such things. A private agency will take over the task of conducting licence exams. The touts who rule the Regional Transport Offices will be kept at bay. An integrated system of vehicle registration will be applied throughout India. Two types of permits will be introduced: national permit and interstate permit. Goods permits will be simplified into a single portal.
The new law will also make punishments more stringent.
· Driving licence will be cancelled for reckless driving.
· Licence will be suspended for six months for drunk driving. This will also attract three months’ imprisonment or a fine of Rs 25,000 or both.
· If a driver jumps traffic signals three times, his licence will be suspended for a month. Plus a fine of Rs 15,000.
· Talking over mobile phone while driving will also lead to the suspension of licence for a month and a fine of Rs 10,000.
· Every traffic violation will be assigned different points: three points for jumping the signal, two points for not wearing seat belts, etc. If a driver’s points exceed 12, his licence will be cancelled for a year. Points are valid for three years.
This bill is expected to save two lakh lives in five years.
Several unions have come forward to oppose the bill, saying the steep rise in fines will only lead to more bribes. Many people will try to slip in Rs 1,000 to the police officer to escape a fine of Rs 25,000. A section of people also demand that the standard of roads has to be improved when the government is collecting so much money as penalties.
States are also not so favourable to the bill. Reasons:
. The central government takes over the Motor Vehicles Department under section 2 of the bill.
· If states have been collecting vehicle taxes under the old system, the central government will be responsible for collecting these taxes under the new bill.
· The bill does not elaborate on the Motor Vehicles Department officers’ responsibilities.
· All bus routes will be put on auction before transport permits are given. But the bill does not specify the future of state-owned corporations such as KSRTC.
· Legal insurance has been capped at Rs 15 lakh. You will have to take a separate policy if you want more coverage.
I think the new law will cut down on accident deaths whether the Motor Vehicles Department is under the central government or the state government.
(The writer is Additional Director General of Police and KSEB Chief Vigilance Officer. He has served as Transport Commissioner)
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