Every driver needs to follow: — Seven Golden Traffic Rules to follow in India
This article will help you to understand Traffic Laws in India and the offence and penalties laid down by the relevant Act.
- Do Not Drink and Drive: As per the current law, the blood alcohol limit permissible for driving is up to 0.03%, which is equivalent to 30 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood.
- Always Own Valid Car Insurance Policy: Motor vehicles in India need to possess valid third-party insurance coverage at all times.
- Wear your seatbelt while Driving a Car: If you are caught driving without this seat belt around your waist and chest, traffic cops can fine you up to Rs.1000 for this violation on the spot.
- Ride a Two-Wheeler with a Helmet: Penalties for non-compliance with this rule come in the form of fines of up to Rs.1000. In serious cases, traffic authorities may decide to suspend your license for a period of up to 3 months as well.
- Stop Using a Mobile Phone while Driving: Using the phone while driving in any other fashion, it will be a punishable offence. Fine of up to Rs.5000 or with imprisonment whcih may be extend upto 1 year or with both.
- Over Speeding: The fine charged for speeding varies as per the size of your vehicle, typically ranging between Rs.1000 and Rs.2000.
- Signal-Violation: Traffic signal violation penalties fine of up to Rs.5000 or imprisonment for a term upto one year or both.
New Traffic Laws and Penalties in India
The Government of India recently updated the traffic rules with the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act 2019. The new traffic rules came into effect from September 1st.
| Offence | What is it? | Penalty |
| General Offences | Violations for which there are no specific penalties under the law. | ₹ 500 for the first offence and ₹ 1,500 for subsequent offences |
| Road regulation violations | Taking a U-turn in a prohibited section, blocking free flow of traffic, not having the security number plates etc. | ₹ 500 |
| Disobedience of official orders | Violating orders for detours, stoppage or other traffic management efforts. Disputing/arguing with officials on duty | ₹ 2,000 |
| Unauthorized use of vehicles without license | For example, driving a geared scooter when you only have a license for gearless two-wheelers or driving a heavy vehicle while holding a driving license for LMVs. | ₹ 1,000 to ₹ 5,000 |
| Driving without license | Not carrying your driving license on person while driving a car or riding a bike | ₹ 5,000 and/or community service |
| Driving despite disqualification | Driving a vehicle when your license has expired or been suspended for a previous infraction | ₹ 10,000 and/or community service |
| Oversized Vehicles | Modifying vehicles for more load bearing or ferrying more people | ₹ 5,000 to ₹ 10,000 and/or community service |
| Over-speeding | Driving/riding over the specified speed limits | ₹ 1,000 to ₹ 2,000 for Light Motor Vehicles ₹ 2,000 to ₹ 4000 for MPV/HPV and/or driving license impound |
| Dangerous Driving | Includes offences like jumping red lights, driving on the wrong side etc. | ₹ 1,000 to ₹ 5,000 and/or imprisonment of 6 months to 1 year for first offence + seizure of driving license ₹ 10,000 and/or imprisonment up to 2 years for the subsequent offence |
| Drunk Driving | Driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs | ₹ 10,000 and/or imprisonment of 6 months to 1 year for first offence + seizure of driving license ₹ 15,000 and/or imprisonment up to 2 years for the subsequent offence |
| Speeding/Racing | Racing with other drivers, aggressive driving etc. | ₹ 5,000 and/or imprisonment of 1 month + community service ₹ 10,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 1 month for the subsequent violation |
| Offences related to accidents | Causing an accident, physical injury through rash, dangerous driving or breaking traffic rules | Penalty up to ₹5,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 6 months for the first offence ₹10,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 1 year for repeat offenders |
| Driving when physically or mentally unfit | Driving when tired or sleepy or ill or with a mental issue that needs medical therapy | ₹ 1,000 for the first offence ₹ 2,000 for subsequent violations |
| Vehicles without permit | Driving a vehicle without permission to drive in a particular area or region or state | ₹ 10,000 and/or imprisonment up to 6 months + community service |
| Aggregators | Violations of licensing conditions by cab drivers or transport service providers | ₹ 25,000 to ₹ 1,00,000 |
| Overloading | Hauling cargo above the specified limit for a commercial vehicle | ₹ 20,000 + ₹ 2,000 per extra ton |
| Overloading Passengers | Ferrying passengers above the specified limit for a people’s carrier | ₹ 1,000 per extra passenger onboard |
| No seat belts | Driving without a seat belt for the driver, co-passenger or rear passengers | ₹ 1,000 and/or community service |
| Overloading two-wheelers | Riding with more than one pillion rider | ₹ 2,000 and disqualification of license for 3 months and/or community service |
| Riding without a helmet | For both the rider and pillion rider | ₹ 1,000 and/or disqualification of license for 3 months + community service |
| No giving way to emergency vehicles | Obstructing the path of ambulances, fire brigade or police response vans | ₹ 10,000 and/or community service |
| Driving without insurance | Not having a valid insurance certificate for the vehicle | ₹ 2,000 and/or imprisonment up to 3 months for the first offence; ₹ 4,000 and/or imprisonment up to 3 months for the repeat offence |
| Offences by juveniles | Parent/Guardian/Owner of the vehicle shall be deemed guilty. Juvenile to be tried under The Juvenile Justice Act | ₹25,000 with 3 years imprisonment and cancellation of the registration of the vehicle for 12 months |
| Power of officers to impound documents | Suspension of the driving license by on-duty officer | |
| Traffic offences committed by the police | Twice the penalty under the applicable sections of the new traffic laws |
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