Bill to amend Motor Vehicles Act likely

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As a deterrent for drunken driving, on-the-spot suspension of driving licence for up to three months is on the cards as the government proposes to introduce a Bill in the monsoon session of Parliament to amend the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, for traffic offences.

Inaugurating the state transport ministers meeting here, the minister of shipping, road transport and highways TR Baalu said proposed amendments would enable to enhance the penalties for traffic offences, provide more powers and teeth to the states and Union territories. The move will alson make regional transport authorities more responsive in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities and rationalise the provisions dealing with payment of appropriate compensation to road accident victims.

The amendments also include imposing a fine of Rs 5,000 on a negligent driver, who causes injury to a person or damages property. Baalu said the proposed amendments have already been endorsed by the Parliamentary Standing Committee. He said the offence of overloading vehicles would no longer be compoundable after the amendments are carried out.

However, the high-level committee under the minister of transport, Tamil Nadu government has recommended that the existing provision allowing compounding of the offence relating to overloading may continue. “This needs to be sorted out,” Baalu said.