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Penalties associated with Driving
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Penalties associated with Driving
Penalties associated with Driving

A road accident is referred to any accident which involves at least one road vehicle, occurring on a road which is open to public circulation and in which at least one person is killed or injured. All those people who are killed or injured as a result of accidents in road traffic are known as Accident victims. The accident victims who die immediately or within thirty days from an accident are known as the Killed person. The accident victims who have suffered trauma requiring medical treatment with or without hospitalization are known as an Injured person.

Reasons

There are many reasons which lead to road accidents. Following are the primary reasons behind road accidents in India:

  • Over-speeding

In India, one of the main reason for road accidents is over-speeding. It is dangerous to cross the speed limit. It is essential to keep a safe distance from another vehicle so that there is both time and space for applying the brakes.

  • Lack of Concentration

The driver should keep 100% concentration on the road while driving his vehicle. The distractions such as talking on mobile phones or listening to music on earphone should be avoided.

  • Condition of the Road

In India, one of the main reason for road accidents is the condition of the roads. Most of the roads consist of potholes without any road signs or are under construction for an extended period of time. This leads to an increased number of road accidents.

  • Drink and Drive

Drink and drive is a serious offence. As per the laws, if any of the drivers are caught with more than 30mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood is under the influence of alcohol can be imprisoned or a fine can be imposed or both. Hence, driving under the influence of alcohol is considered as one of the major reason behind road accidents.

  • Not following the Rules and Regulations on the Road

Many people drive in the wrong direction, which leads to higher chances of accidents. Many people are unaware of the road signs. Many drivers change the lanes without giving a proper signal. Also, many drivers do not switch on their lights at night. All this leads to road accidents.

Penalties

Following are the penalties mentioned under the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act 2019:

  • In case if there is any violation of road regulations, then the fine ranges from INR 500 to INR 1000.
  • In case if the person is travelling without a ticket, then the penalty of INR 500 will be imposed, and earlier it was INR 200.
  • In case if there is any unauthorized use of vehicles without a license, then the penalty of INR 5,000 will be imposed, and earlier it was INR 1,000.
  • If any person is driving without a license, then the penalty of INR 5,000 will be imposed, and earlier it was INR 500.
  • In case if the vehicle is taken without lawful authority and seized motor vehicle by force, then the penalty of INR 5,000 will be imposed, and earlier it was INR 500.\
  • If any person has caused obstruction to the free flow of traffic, then the penalty of INR 500 will be imposed, and earlier it was INR 50.
  • If any person has disobeyed the orders of the Authority and refused to share information, then the penalty of INR 2,000 will be imposed, and earlier it was INR 500.
  • If any person who is driving despite disqualification then the penalty of INR 10,000 will be imposed, and earlier it was INR 500.
  • In case if the person has crossed its speed limit, then the fine ranges from INR 1,000 to INR 2,000 for a light motor vehicle will be imposed and INR 2,000 to INR 4,000 for the medium passenger or goods vehicles and impounding of driving license for a subsequent offence, earlier it was INR 400.
  • In case of drunken driving, the driver can be imprisoned for a period up to 6 months or with a fine of INR 10,000 or with both for the first time offence. If the same act is repeated for the second time, then he can be imprisoned for a period up to 2 years or with a fine of INR 15,000 or with both.
  • In case of offences relating to accidents, the driver can be imprisoned for a period up to 6 months or with a fine of INR 5,000 or with both for the first time offence. If the same act is repeated for the second time, then he can be imprisoned for a period up to 1 year or with a fine of INR 10,000 or with both.
  • If any person is driving the uninsured vehicle, then the driver can be imprisoned for a period up to 3 months or with a fine of INR 2,000 or with both for the first time offence. If the same act is repeated for the second time, then he can be imprisoned for a period up to 3 months or with a fine of INR 4,000 or with both. Earlier the imprisonment was for the period up to 3 months or a fine of INR 1,000 or both will be imposed.
  • In case if the person driving is mentally or physically unfit to drive a vehicle, then the penalty of INR 1,000 will be imposed for the first time offence. If the same act is repeated for the second time, then the penalty of INR 2,000 will be imposed. Earlier it was INR 200 for a first-time offence and INR 500 for a subsequent offence.
  • In case if the person is racing or speeding the vehicle, then the driver can be imprisoned for a period up to 1 month or with a fine of INR 500 or with both for the first time offence. If the same act is repeated for the second time, then he can be imprisoned for a period up to 1 month or with a fine of INR 10,000 or with both.
  • In case of dangerous driving, the driver can be imprisoned for a period up to 6 months or with a fine ranging from INR1,000 to INR5,000 or with both for the first time offence. If the same act is repeated for the second time, then he can be imprisoned for a period up to 2 years or with a fine of INR 10,000 or with both.
  • In case if where there is no penalty is specifically provided then the penalty of INR 500 will be imposed for the first time offence and 1,500 for the subsequent offence. Earlier it was INR 100 for a first-time offence and INR 300 for a subsequent offence.

Conclusion

The new Motor Vehicles Act has enhanced the penalties in case if there are any driving errors. In order to avoid road accidents, one must use safety measures while driving, maintain the speed limit, follow the rules and regulations of the road, follow traffic signals, etc. Find lawyers in Delhi, Chennai, Jaipur, and, Bangalore who can help you to provide information to the court. 

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