Higher penalties for violating traffic rules from 1 September

There will be higher penalties for violating traffic rules from September 1 as the Centre plans to implement some of the clauses of the recently amended Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019.

The road transport and highways ministry plans to implement as many as 63 clauses under recently amended Motor Vehicles Act, transport minister Nitin Gadkari said on Wednesday.

Apart from increased penalty on traffic rules such as over-speeding, drunk driving, driving without helmet, among others, the over two dozen clauses also include provisions pertaining to driving licences, vehicle registration, national transport policy, among others.

Gadkari said that the clauses, which do not require framing of new rules, have been sent to the law ministry for vetting.

"Subject to clearance from law ministry, these clauses are likely to be implemented from 1st of next month," he said.

As far as other clauses are concerned--framing rules for taxi aggregators, road safety board, third party insurance--the rules will be framed in the next few months.

The minister also said that the National Transport Policy that will be brought in under the Act, will help to develop an efficient, multi modal transport system in the country.

The government will spend ₹12,000 crore towards fixing 786 black spots identified by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Besides, Gadkari said FASTags will be made mandatory from all vehicles from December.