India’s traffic fatality and accident numbers are concerning. Did you know that more than 5 lakh traffic accidents occur in India annually, of which 1.5 lakh result in fatalities and 3 lakh in permanent disabilities?
The Indian Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act has stricter traffic regulations starting in September 2019 to reduce the surge in vehicle accidents related to the road. To encourage drivers and two-wheeler riders to seriously follow traffic rules and regulations and not break them for the sake of their own safety and the safety of others, the severity of traffic penalties has sharply increased. As a new bike rider, you need to be aware of the RTO rules in India.
The top eight traffic rule violations and the most recent fines and penalties are shown below. Every time you start your bike to ride, you can use it as a quick reference and a reminder. As a new vehicle rider, you have to take care of RTO bike driving rules in India
Top Motorcycle Driving Rules in India
1. Operating a Vehicle Without a Valid License
When riding a bike, it goes without saying that you should have your driver’s license with you, and shouldn’t be expired. Telling a traffic officer that you left your driver’s license at home or were about to renew it might no longer be effective. The former fine of Rs. 500 has been replaced with a hefty penalty of Rs. 5000 as punishment for breaking this fundamental traffic law.
2. Operating an Uninsured Bike
You jumped a traffic signal while riding your bike and had bad luck. You have broken the law if you don’t have bike insurance or your policy has expired. The revised traffic laws provide fines of Rs. 2000 for first offenses and Rs. 4000 for second offenses, and up to 3 months in jail, as penalties.
The Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 made auto insurance mandatory. You should obtain at least third-party insurance to protect your liability if your automobile or bike causes third-party harm, death, or property damage as a result of an accident. Renewal of bike insurance must be done on time.
3. Alcohol and Drugs While Driving (Drunken Driving)
It is a well-known traffic regulation. However, many people willfully and brazenly break the law and ride or drive after having a few drinks. If caught operating a two-wheeler while intoxicated, you could face a hefty fine of Rs. 10,000 or even a 6-month jail sentence. Traffic police will take strict action against you if you repeat the offense and fail to learn your lesson. Under the proposed regulations, you will receive a fine of Rs. 15,000 or up to two years in prison.
4. Speeding and Racing
The newly imposed fines for such traffic law infractions should be a significant deterrent. This is especially true if you enjoy riding your bike at dangerous speeds while racing other cyclists or flying over occasionally free patches of road. First-time offenders will instead face a fine of Rs. 5000 and a sentence of up to three months in jail. Be prepared to pay a fine of Rs. 10,000 dollars or up to a year in jail if caught a second time.
5. Loading Up Your Two-Wheeler
A two-wheeler is designed to accommodate both the rider and the pillion passenger. To prevent situations where three people are riding a bike, which is not unusual in India, a fee of Rs. 1000 is now enforced for each additional passenger. On two-wheelers, loads of material that are larger and heavier than bikes are frequently piled up and transported.
The vehicle becomes unbalanced, difficult to operate, and extremely dangerous for you and other road users if your bike is overloaded with extra passengers or physical weight. Two-wheeler overload carries a fine of Rs. 2000 and a three-month driving license suspension.
6. Failure To Wear a Helmet
Many two-wheeler riders decided not to wear a helmet when riding a bike, despite understanding how critical and life-saving it is. Consequently, the law enacted stricter regulations. The amended fine is Rs. 1000 and a three-month license suspension.
7. Risky Or Hasty Driving
In India, talking on the phone while driving is often an offense under road safety rules for two-wheelers that refer to rash or negligent driving. If you make or receive calls repeatedly while driving a motorcycle, be careful, you may have to pay a fine of up to Rs 500. 2000, imprisonment up to a maximum of 1 year, or both.
8. Over-Speeding
For the protection of drivers, certain areas have fixed speed limits. It is a traffic infraction to violate them. For an LMV (light motor vehicle), an overspeeding fine of up to Rs. 2000 is possible.
CONCLUSION
The purpose of traffic laws and regulations is to safeguard the safety of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. Additionally, it is designed to keep your bike secure. To prevent injuries and fatalities from traffic accidents, we must all abide by the traffic laws in India.
As law-abiding individuals, we should uphold that reputation by abiding by the fundamental guidelines provided, as this is the most efficient way to avoid paying hefty fines under the Motor Vehicle Act of 2019. To avoid regrets in the future, we should be careful while choosing the types of two-wheeler insurance in India. We should also study traffic laws to make sure that we are driving safely.
