The Road Ministry on Monday announced that it will notify new clauses – as approved in Motor Vehicle Amendment Act, 2019 – to implement higher penalties for traffic violations with effect from September 1.

This includes those regarding driving license, drunken driving, driving without seatbelt or helmet, overloading, among others.

“The intent is not to collect more money. The intent is to prohibit people from violating traffic rules,” said Gadkari, adding that almost 65 per cent of the roughly 1.5 lakh accidental deaths are in the 18-35 year age bracket.

Some States have the choice to have their separate maximum and minimum limits of fines, although most of the States are on board about higher fines. Hopefully these steps together will lower the accidents at least by half.

VIP-agnostic CCTVs

As more and more State governments take to using CCTVs to capture traffic violations, several “khaas aadmis” (Very Important Persons) from having to pay hefty fines for traffic violations.

Now, even Chief Ministers are having to pay high fines for over-speeding or jumping red-lights as CCTV cameras do not differentiate based in who is driving, Gadkari said here today, adding that he himself had to pay a fine for over-speeding in Mumbai, when his vehicle – which was being driven by his driver -- was captured in CCTV for exceeding speed limits.

Several steps to be implemented include MP-led committees, which will take a closer look at accident spots and making students aware of the rules.

No cash at toll booths

From December 1, toll plazas of National Highways will just not accept cash.

If vehicle owners do not have Fastags – RFID stickers issued by Indian Highways Management Company Limited – on their vehicles by December 1, then they cannot cross National Highways’ toll booths, Gadkari added. Drivers without Fastags have to buy tokens from nearby places, the Minister added.

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