The traffic police and transport department work hard to keep traffic smooth in the country. They made rules stricter and increased fines, but people still break them. Now, the government plans a big step to make roads safer and stop traffic violations.
As per India Today, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will be starting a negative points system for driving licenses. As part of this system, negative points will be awarded to drivers that speed, run signals or drive dangerously.
How the system will work
This system will function similarly to negative marking for exams. Basically, when someone violates a traffic law the driver will incur negative point(s) on their license. If the negative points go over a certain threshold, the driving license will be either suspended or revoked.
How to get negative points
Drivers will get negative points for breaking traffic rules and may get positive points for safe driving. In 2011, a committee said that if a driver gets 12 negative points in three years, their licence should be suspended for one year. If they repeat the offence, they may face a five-year suspension.
The government has not fixed the final limit yet. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is still planning how to apply this system. This rule may be added later to the Motor Vehicles Act.
Effect on licence renewal
This system will also affect licence renewal. Drivers who often break rules may have to take the driving test again before renewal. This will show their driving record and help the government give licences only to safe drivers.
The ministry also plans to start a learning licence for low-speed electric vehicles with power up to 1,500 watts and speed below 25 km/h.