President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday gave his assent to the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019. 

The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by Rajya Sabha on July 31. While the bill was already passed by the Lok Sabha on July 23, it needed to go back to Lower House as the bill in Rajya Sabha passed with three new amendments. 

The new law increases the penalty on most traffic offences by five to 10 folds, for example, for driving without licence one will have to shell out Rs 5,000 instead of Rs 500 and for drunken driving Rs. 10,000 in place of existing Rs 2000.

Speaking after the passing of the bill, Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport & Highways, said the much-needed amendments will improve road safety, facilitate citizens in their dealings with transport departments, strengthen rural transport, public transport and last-mile connectivity through automation, computerization and online services. 

Here are proposed penalties for various violations under new law

He added that the Bill would provide an efficient, safe and corruption-free transport system in the country. The new law proposes stringent penalties for traffic violations.

He said 15 lakh people die every year due to road accidents and the country is facing a shortage of 25 lakh trained drivers. The Act has provisions for training drivers.

Gadkari asserted that this was a step ahead in the direction of road safety and the number of accidents can be reduced to half after it becomes an Act.

The new act is an amended version of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and also proposes the removal of the requirement for minimum educational qualification as long as the applicant holds a certificate from a driver training school or establishment.