Speech on the "New
Motor Vechile Act.
Answers
Answer:
The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019 is based on the recommendations of the Group of Transport Ministers of States. Given that the Act wanted to deter individuals from violating traffic rules, it has introduced heavy fines for drunken driving, driving without licence, dangerous driving, over-speeding, etc. These penalties will be increasing by 10 per cent every year on April 1, as notified by the Central government. The new Act has also extended the period for renewal of driving licences from one month to one year after the date of expiry. Only if the renewal delayed more than a year, will the driver have to undergo a test of competence. The Act also promises to protect those people who render emergency medical or non-medical assistance to a victim of an accident, from any civil or criminal liability. The minimum compensation for death or grievous injury due to hit and run has been moved up substantially.
Why is it important?
In 2017, as per data by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, there had occured 4.64 lakh accidents that claimed lives of 1.47 lakh people. Two-wheelers accounted for over a third of all road accidents. Slowly, as all States begin implementing the provisions of the Act with heftier fines and imprisonment for drunken driving, driving without licence and insurance and juvenile offences, people may start to follow rules and road accidents may actually reduce. In the last one week itself, there has been a rush among motorists to renew their lapsed insurance policies, according to data from the largest online insurance aggregator.
A valid motor insurance is important so that the aggrieved parties in a road accident get compensation.
However, note that given that it is only a model Act, State governments are free to make their own laws and rules. Success depends on how far states enforce the provisions of the Act.