Driving in Delhi? Follow these Rules to Avoid Penalty

Watch out for these Revised Penalties

As boring as it may sound, rules are made for your safety. If you still need a reason, the amendments made in the Motor Vehicles Act (2019) now have 63 new clauses, majority of them dealing with traffic rules violation along with their inflated fines and revised penalties.

Still not convinced? While we can’t exactly put a number on your life, here are some numbers bound to burn a hole in your pocket:

Source: Hindustan Times

These are just  few penalties out of many to take heed of. The changes have definitely prompted alarmed citizens to adhere to the law. Traffic violators are being prosecuted online and suspended through the Violation on Camera App, so make sure you follow all the rules and don’t forget to bike insurance renewal before heading out!

Follow these Rules to avoid Getting Fined

• Safety First
  • Anyone found driving without a helmet will be levied a fine of Rs. 1,000 and a suspension of their driver's license for three months. Same goes for those who don’t buckle up, with an addition of a compulsory two-hour counselling sessiontaken by the designated official.
• No need for speed
  • Your risk of crashing fatally is directly proportional to your speed. If caught speeding beyond the regulated 50-70 Km/hr., be sure to expect a fine of Rs.  5,000 along with driving license seizure on the spot. The driver will also be prohibited from driving that vehicle back home as their license will be suspended for at least three months.
• Pollution Check
  • Over the years Delhi has grown synonymous with smog and rising pollution levels. Delhi RTO ensures that anyone skipping the pollution check will be fined Rs. 10,000. Having a PUC back at home won’t be much good as not carrying this pollution certificate will cost you Rs. 1,000.
• Not so fast or furious
  • Road-rage and dangerous driving is something every driver in Delhi has witnessed. Changing lanes, drunk driving and speeding is a very common culprit behind the demise of over 1.5 lakh people. In 2015, NCRB reported over 45,000 incidents causing injury due to 'road rage' and 'rash driving'.

While the Motor Vehicle Act still needs to roll out a clear definition for road rage, it is very important for vehicle owners as well as the pedestrians to stay alert and ensure they don’t contribute to these figures.

Traffic Penalties you Probably Didn't Know About

With so many violations covered above, there are still a lot more you need to be aware of. Here are some rules that have been around even before the amendment but are not common knowledge:

• Not wearing appropriate footwear while driving
  • For those who did not know this, anyone driving a vehicle while wearing slippers, flip flops or barefoot will be fined a sum of 1,000.
• Driving while clicking selfies
  • Ever since taking selfies became a thing, it's been a common sight to find a bunch of enthusiasts looking for a unique frame- usually a road. As per a case study done by the researchers of AIIMS and IIT Kanpur, over 250 people have lost lives because of 'selfie- accidents'. To curb this recklessness, the whole act or even an attempt to click pictures while driving will cost you a fine of Rs. 2,000.
• Blocking an Emergency Vehicle
  • Sadly, many Indians seem to be unaware of this rule the most. With increasing reluctance to let any vehicle pass, it was only imminent that a whopping Rs. 10,000be fined for anyone who blocked the way of an emergency vehicle. Ambulances, police-vehicles and fire-trucks are included among emergency vehicles.
• Smoking inside your vehicle
  • This law is especially applicable in Delhi- NCR and the areas surrounding it. Drivers found smoking in and around Delhi-NCR areas will be fined Rs. 100 if caught.
• Driving without motor insurance
  • You may be a safe rider but that still requires you to get your vehicle insured. If not, a fine of Rs. 1,000 along with a court challan is the minimum penalty for violating this rule. What's more, your vehicle can be impounded by the on-duty traffic police officer. So make sure you carry a hard/soft copy of your insurance but before that, ensure that it's a valid one and not expired. If it has expired, you can always check here and get your bike insurance renewal done at Policybazaar!

In a nutshell

While the law and police are actively at work to curb traffic violations, it's our responsibility to make sure we are up-to-date with these amendments and familiarize ourselves with these rules. Check out the latest implementations so you know what not to do. Ignorantia legis neminem excusat, you can’t skip this part to use it as an excuse later.