Motor Vehicle Act 2016 Passed in Loksabha, Proposes Hefty Penalties

Motor Vehicle Act 2016 with a number of amendments has been passed in the Lok Sabha yesterday. The bill now proposes heavy penalties for breaking traffic rules. The most important and considerable amendment is for the minors, if they are caught driving and involved in a fatal accident, their parents or guardians will be sentenced to three-year jail and the vehicle registration will also be cancelled.

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The MVA 2016 also suggests a ten-times increase in the compensation for the families of accident victims.

List of Revised Traffic Rules, You Should Know-

1. The 2016 amended bill confirms the liability of no upper limit for the third party insurer in case of a motor vehicle accidents. The maximum liability cap for third party insurance in case of death is Rs 10 lakh and in case of serious injury the compensation amount is five lakh rupees. An option of case withdrawal or appeal further is also there for the affected family.

2. A Motor Vehicle Accident Fund is also suggested in the amended MVA 2016, which would supply security to on road Indian through a compulsory insurance cover for particular accident events.

3. The bill focuses on the improvement of services delivery to the stakeholders from e-Governance. That will provide facilities such as online learning licenses, validity period expansion for driving licenses, no mandatory educational qualifications for transport licences, among other things.

4. Under JJ Act of this new bill, Juveniles caught while committing offences will be kept under trial and their guardians will also be treated same guilty in the case. Also, the motor vehicle registration cancellation provision is also there.

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5. A specific multiplier set up facility is provided to the state government for each fine under this act, conditionally, it should not be less than one and greater than ten.

6. The bill also proposes special provision for the Divyang, now they will get driving licences and can have their vehicles altered as per their convenience.

7. This act ensures effective regulations for the testing and certification process of automobiles, owing to testing agencies inclusion under this act for automobiles approvals.

8. The process for testing and certification for automobiles is proposed to be regulated more effectively. The testing agencies issuing automobile approvals have been brought under the ambit of the Act.

9. To maintain equilibrium in the registration and licensing process, the MVA 2016 act proposes creation of a National Register for Driving Licence and National Register for Vehicle registration with the help of "Vahan" and "Sarathi" platforms.

The Union Cabinet approved all the amendments in the Motor Vehicle Bill, 2016 on 31 March, 2017.

While, the bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in the month of August last year. And considering suggestions from the parliamentary standing committee, the bill got approval from the Union Cabinet. Now, the Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari is looking forward to introduce the bills in the Rajya Sabha by the next session.