LS passes bill to hike fine on traffic violators

A bill to unleash radical reforms in the transport sector by ensuring 100% e-governance, checking bogus driving licenses and vehicle thefts, slapping heavy penalty on traffic violators and protecting a good samaritan was approved by the Lok Sabha on Monday.

All efforts would be made to eliminate corruption in the sector, road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said while replying to a discussion on the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016, claiming that “no bogus driving licenses would be made and there would be no theft of the vehicles once there is e-governance.”

The bill was passed by a voice vote after several opposition amendments were rejected, including one moved by a CPI(M) member on enhancing the compensation in case of accidents was defeated by 37 votes in favour and 221 against.

There should be uniformity in the rules concerning issuance of driving licenses, the minister said, adding that through “e-governance, there would be provision of electronic registration”.

The bill seeks to save lives by ushering in radical reforms in the motor vehicles law to slap heavy penalty on traffic violators, protecting good samaritans and making vehicle-makers responsible for design defects to cut road accidents.

The basic aim of the bill is “to save human lives”, as accidents claim around 1.5 lakh lives across the country every year.

“Once we (BJP) complete five years, we would be able to save 50% lives lost due to road accidents. We are working towards it,” Gadkari said.

The minister said once the changes are incorporated in the law, it would be impossible for anyone including VIPs like politicians to obtain driving license without tests.

THE NEW BILL AIMS TO PROTECT GOOD SAMARITANS AND MAKE VEHICLEMAKERS RESPONSIBLE FOR DESIGN DEFECTS