Motorists in Mumbai and other parts of the state could lose driving licence for up to three months for speeding, jumping signal or speaking in phone while driving.

The strict measure has been communicated to the traffic department through a notification following a directive of a Supreme Court-appointed committee to oversee road safety measures aimed at bringing down fatalities due to mishaps on roads.

Recently the committee had a meeting in New Delhi in which the chief secretary of Maharashtra represented the state. The alarming rise in the number of road accidents, which is more than 12,000 last year, prompted the panel to ask the top official to take concrete steps to bring down the numbers.

The notification says that a driver's licence may be cancelled for a maximum of three months for every breach of traffic rules. Also the state transport department has given instructions to the police to ensure how the decision can be implemented with immediate effect.

The infractions include speeding, jumping red light, carrying excessive goods in a goods vehicle than prescribed limits, using goods vehicle for passenger transport, drink and drive or driving after consuming intoxicants and using mobile phones while driving.

Apart from suspension of licence, the order also deals with other provisions for punishment for other violations such as drunk driving, charging heft fines from riders and pillion riders for not wearing helmets and awarding them "punishment in jail for at least 2 hours".

"We have received a soft copy of the order and after going through it we shall come up with an action plan and will enforce the directions mentioned in the order and will also make sure that the same is implemented across the city as soon as possible." said Joint Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Amitesh Kumar.

PUNISHMENT FOR...

Speeding, jumping red signal, overloading, using goods vehicles to ferry people, drink and drive, talking on mobile phone while driving