When driving on Indian roads, it is necessary to follow a basic set of traffic rules to ensure your safety as well as that of others on the road.
Driving on the wrong side of the road has contributed to be one of the major causes of accidents in the country. As per the ‘Road Accident in India 2019’ report, wrong-side driving is the 2nd biggest cause of death on National Highways. As per another report by the World Bank, India is responsible for 11% of road accident fatalities worldwide. Despite road safety measures being promoted by governments of various states, traffic violations continue to take place due to which the government has started levying heavy penalties and fines.
Charges or penalty for driving on wrong side of the road
- The penalty for driving on the wrong side of the road is Rs. 500- Rs. 1000 and/or up to 3 months of imprisonment.
- The traffic police in the country has been extremely vigilant and the heft fines have resulted in the citizens taking traffic rules seriously and driving responsibly.
Addressing the increasing number of accidents
Considering the increasing number of accidents that took place in November 2018-2019 i.e. 13, 261 deaths that resulted from accident fatalities, which was 8.1% increase from fatalities that took place in 2017, the Government of India brought several changes to the existing Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Motor Vehicles Act (Amendment 2019)
The amendments made to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 were implemented from September 2019 and several provisions have been put forth since then to ensure complete safety of children, pedestrians, non-motorised vehicles, etc. Major changes were brought about in regards to the penalties imposed on traffic violations. The penalties were revised and increased by almost 200%. Many states and cities in India denied following the new amendments, considering the heavy increase in penalties.
Tips to avoid traffic violations and fines
- Never forget to wear seatbelt
- Ensure that you are always carrying your driving license with you
- Drive within the speed limit
- Make way for emergency vehicles such as ambulances, fire engines, police vans, etc.
- Always carry your driving license
- On a two way road, always drive on the left side
- Drive slowly when you are at intersections
- Avoid overtaking
- Don’t park your vehicle near the entrance of a building, footpath, traffic light, road crossing
- Check on the rearview mirror before taking a turn
- Ensure that you and your pillion always have a helmet on
- In case you have a learning license, ensure that you are accompanied with a person having a valid two wheeler license
- Never try to bribe a police officer as it is a crime in itself
- Don’t drive or ride under the influence of alcohol
New traffic rules in India 2020
- In the state of Uttarakhand, using mobile phones while driving is banned and the phone is confiscated for 24 hours if anyone is found using it while driving
- In Pune and Bengaluru, loud silencers are banned as they lead to noise and environment pollution
- Using phone or watching videos when driving is punishable by the law
Pay traffic challan online
With technological advancement, one can pay traffic challan online in India. Challan can be paid online through RTO’s official website. Simply proceed with entering the bike registration number and you can then make the payment via debit card, credit card, UPI or other payment methods available.
Conclusion
Your safety and that of the pedestrians and other vehicles depend on you. It is best to follow the above traffic rules and stay covered with a two wheeler insurance policy to get financial protection in case of damages, death or disability caused to a third party or damages caused to your own bike.
Also Read:Process to obtain duplicate registration certificate online and offline
