NO NEGATIVE POINTS FOR DRIVING NOW

IN

The traffic police has collected Aadhaar details of just 1.5 lakh motorists in a city that has nearly 45 lakh vehicles.

As a result, the first phase of negative points system for violation of traffic rules is likely to be implemented based on driving licence and spot verification. Negative points will be added to the account of a motorist based on his driving licence.

For example, traffic cops may stop motorists and book cases of drunken driving, helmet or seat belt rule violation among other notified provisions of Motor Vehicles Act. They will take Aadhaar or driving licence number of the motorist and points will be added to the history-account of the motorist.

In the case of violations captured on camera, adding negative points will become difficult unless the person driving the vehicle is identified. The owner of the vehicle may also say he was not driving it and had given the vehicle to his friend.

“In such a case, the traffic cops will issue notice to the owner of the vehicle and it will be the owner’s responsibility to identify the person driving his or her vehicle at the time of violation. The details of the motorist will be taken from the owner and negative points would be added to his or her history-account,” said deputy commissioner of police, traffic, A.V. Ranganath said.

“This will take a long time and thus the first phase of the enforcement of negative points system would be mainly through spot-checking and driving licence-record,” Mr Ranganath told this correspondent.

Motorists said the negative points system should be implemented only after bad roads are repaired. "Traffic cops should put in place markings on roads such as stop line, zebra markings and signalling system among others," said Mr K. Rohit, a motorist.

Traffic cops said the bad condition of roads was no excuse not to follow rules. The provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act have to be followed at all times, a police official said.