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| Growing Public discontent about newly promulgated Motor vehicles rules | | | Khushwant S Ranial | 9/18/2019 9:45:45 PM |
| The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways have recently introduced steep hike in fine for traffic offences by holding the belief that it shall show a definite good results in near future in lessening the rate of road accidents. But the outcry of the public can be heard louder and clear. Some term it as a form of Zazia once Mughal emperors used to levy upon their public. Others rate it as a draconian suppressive law and sheer unbearable height against the principles of democracy. Those who are in opposition have different opinion by stating it as a black authoritarian law and have not supported it from the core of their hearts and have termed it as anti people and non-friendly approach.
Undoubtedly the amended Motor Vehicles Amendment Act 2019 is a bold initiative taken by BJP led NDA government but quite surprisingly their own ruled states like Gujarat, and Uttarakhand have refused to implement the proposed amendments in true letter and spirit immediately and imposed the new rules by reducing the penalties and rest other states like Punjab, Maharashtra and West Bengal have put decisions on hold temporarily thus forcing the Union Minister for Roads and Transport Nitin Gadkari to comment upon in to this matter. He has reiterated that that it is the discretion of the State Government to reconsider and apply the rules by reducing the penalty amount as per their own provided the safety of the common citizen remains their top most priority .The ministry is now seeking legal opinion because of the refusal of the states to toe the line. The ministers intentions are very candid which can be gauged from the mood of the government vehemently supporting the act to become the law. However it is always tough to enact the law when general public is badly affected by such bold decisions and that to especially in country of ours where general public lacks discipline forcing to adopt such measures.
Right since its inception of new Motor Vehicles rules i.e from Ist September 2019 to till date ,record fine amount levied for overloading have been recorded in states like Chandigarh and Delhi where the violators have to pay the penalties over than Rs. 1.41 lacs and Rs.2.07 lacs and over than Rs. 23,000/= for not holding valid documents like Insurance, Fitness ,Driving licenses and PUCC etc. Media reports have also shown some violators setting their vehicles ablaze or abandoning them for failing to pay the heavy penalty. This unprecedented hike has put every road users in shocking state.
As per the Govt. data, 89% of the total population of India across all frontiers uses the road connectivity in their daily routine life but the space have not increased proportionally to the increase in the growth of the population. Thus, to meet the daily needs of one's life, everyone is fighting against the time by using around 20 crore of different types of transport vehicles and in this mad rush of speed, every year in India, around 5 lakhs accidents are taking place and out of the them nearly 1.5 lakhs die and rest those who survives, suffer badly and become parasites for life long . The cost is heavily borne by the National exchequer to meet the exigencies of the victim either dead or survived with multiple disabilities.
Data analysis reveals that around 32% of the road accidents in India are caused by the road users in between the age groups of 16 to 24 years .No doubt, the new scheme of things shall cause deterrence especially on the youth in between the age group of 16 to 20 years because the new rule does not afford parents to take risk by allowing their wards without holding valid license to drive unnecessarily. .The quantum of 3 years punishment cum fine up to Rs 25,000 shall definitely dent the spirit of those parents who are sensible and respect the laws.
To provide safe journey to every road user is the prime objective of the government concerned agencies. But expecting the same journey to be made safer by the application of hammer is not advisable and appreciably expected to yield dividends. Temporarily, it may show impact but definitely it will create a wedge between police and public. The police-public relationship in India is already carrying the shade of colonial legacy and public even after the gap of 72 odd years of Independence have not overcome the scourge of suppression and under such existing scenario one cannot hope better relations to grow and stay as promising as tried through community policing so far. In India people have never taken laws to be abided by seriously and taken the freedom to misuse the rules for granted. Net result is gloom that surrounds the family.
Remember roads are not the personal property of any individual. They belong to every citizen. They are our lifelines and no one can afford their choking. Roads too expect some respect to be shown by the commuters. If we acknowledge the space and limitations of the roads to bear the brunt of the commuter's load day in and day out, only then there shall grow the chance of some respite from the unabated increase in the accidental rate. We the citizen must not treat roads as a playground to play video game. Roads seeks highest amount of discipline for the unhindered mobility of the traffic. This is only possible when we stick to the slogan "Lane driving is the safe driving".
Rest the apprehensions of the public regarding hike in penalty amount, it is urged that we must follow traffic rules and regulations. There shall be no visible offences like non wearing of crash helmet, seat belt, uniform by the commercial drivers, overloading, over speeding, using of the mobile phones while driving, drunk driving, breaking traffic signals, did not stopping on the red signals at the rotaries, triple riding and in valid number plate. The moment any one among such mentioned traffic violations are noticed by the traffic cops, automatically the next phase rolls in which cops seeks for checking of documents like holding of valid Driving Licence, Registration of the vehicles, Fitness Certificate, Route Permit, insurance, Token tax and Pollution certificate. Remember under all circumstances when there is found no violations, no traffic cop can dare to apply his undue force. For reaching that level we have to set ourselves right. We cannot blame entirely traffic department for the high handedness. Such alarming situation is bought by ourselves and not enforced forcibly by the traffic cops. They are on the roads performing their legitimate duties and we the citizens must support them in clearing the mess and chaos.
Remember traffic flow is guided by the principles of enforcement, engineering and education. But the three factors which contribute to road accidents are road conditions, driver's driving and vehicular positions. The present challaning system is mainly aimed at to target the driver to improve his skills and overcome his shortcoming by remaining extra vigilant. In regard to other two factors, subject is out of traffic cops domain. The concerned sister agencies have to contribute in sharing the responsibility of both providing the better infrastructure and educating the general masses to comply with the laid directions of the rules and regulations. Last but not the least whenever we ourselves arrive on the road for its use we must not forget our families waiting for us at home. The moment we forget it and embrace the speed then the very next moment there is always a certainty of meeting the wrath of our over confidence. Traffic cops never intend to garner revenue for the state but it's our ill attitude to reforms ourselves that lands us in their nest to pay the price for our faults. Their primary objective is to maintain and regulate traffic flow but when we violate the rules and regulations; their sole objective gets diluted and forces them to shift their efforts in nabbing the violators instead of adhering to their primary task. Hence it becomes the moral duty of every road user to show sense of wisdom in maintaining the discipline on the road for keeping the roads free of accidents. |
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