Road safety experts have urged the Centre to change its approach towards cracking down on traffic violations.
Instead of charging a hefty one-time amount – to bring down the number of alleged false cases of traffic rules violation – there should be gradually increasing fines, according to the chairman of international road safety body, International Road Federation (IRF), Hindustan Times has reported. Since the amendment in the Motor Vehicle Act came into force on August 9, 2019, there has been a lot of discussion on the issue as the traffic fine has exceeded the price of the vehicle in some cases.
Explaining the suggested model to Hindustan Times, IRF president, KK Kapila said, “Care should be taken that the fines are imposed gradually on traffic violators in the sense that if the increased range is from Rs 100 to Rs 1,000, the first year should be Rs 250, the second year should be Rs 500 and the third year should be Rs 1,000.”
The road safety body has stressed on the importance of making the masses realise that the rules have been brought in place to benefit them and not to sabotage them, which is the popular perception.
A huge outcry followed the implementation of the amendment with traffic police charging hefty sums from violators in Delhi, Haryana, Odisha and elsewhere. An large number of tickets were also issued in the said places on the very first day the new fines were introduced.
Kapila also advised the Centre to set up a separate fund with the fine amount that can be spent for improving road safety and not for any other purposes.
