The road transport ministry is planning to introduce a negative points system on driving licenses for traffic violations, potentially leading to suspension or cancellation for repeat offenders. This initiative aims to improve road safety, as current fines haven’t been effective. The plan also includes mandatory driving tests for license renewals if traffic rules have been violated.
NEW DELHI: Aiming to rein in errant drivers and repeat offenders, the road transport ministry is planning to introduce a negative points system on driving licences (DLs) for offences such as jumping signals and speeding. Once the accumulated negative points cross the defined threshold, the DL can be suspended or cancelled. These negative points would be in addition to existing fines and penalties.
The ministry shared the overall framework of the proposal, as a part of overhauling the DL regime, at a brainstorming session on road safety with stakeholders, including state govt representatives, experts and non-govt organisations this week.
Countries such as Australia, UK, Germany, Brazil, France and Canada use a point system to track and penalise repeat offenders.
Officials said the “demerit and merit” point licencing system will be included in the Motor Vehicles Act when it seeks amendments to the law in the next couple of months. “While demerit points will be assigned for violation of traffic rules, merit points would be rewarded for good driver behaviour and to good samaritans,” said an official.
Increase in fines and penalties introduced since 2019 has not brought the desired results as road deaths and injuries have increased to more than 1.7 lakh in a year. Sources said the extended penalty which can result in suspension or cancellation of DLs would be a bigger deterrent going by the global experience. They added that with the increased electronic recording of offences now the enforcement agencies concerned can track the penalty points using handheld devices for taking immediate action.
In 2011, an expert committee on “Review of MV Act” headed by former road transport secretary S Sunder had recommended the “penalty point system for drivers” with details of such points for every offence. It had recommended suspension of DLs for one year, if the total number of accumulated points crossed 12 in three years. If a driver whose licence has been suspended, again accumulated 12 points, his DL would be cancelled for five years.
The govt’s plan also includes mandatory driving test for DL holders applying for renewal before expiry of existing licence, if they have violated traffic rules. At present, driving test is exempted if one applies for DL renewal before its expiry. “The moves are aimed at enhancing overall road safety,” said another official.
The ministry will also make mandatory provision of obtaining learners licence for electric vehicles of less than 1,500 watts and maximum design speed of 25 kmph. It will introduce graded eligibility for obtaining learners’ licences.
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