Carmakers to face Rs100-crore penalty for safety rules violations

Stiffer penalties for faulty designs and absence of necessary safety features in vehicles are among the steps suggested by the new Road Safety Bill to secure lives and reduce fatalities in road mishaps.

Automakers could face a penalty of Rs100 crore if they were found to be in violation of the new norms.

The proposed penal provisions formed a part of the recommendations made by a panel of state transport ministers headed by Rajasthan transport minister Yunoos Khan. The panel, set up by the centre to frame stringent traffic and road safety rules, had suggested "stringent penalties to the extent of Rs100 crore for non-compliance of automobile regulations by automobile companies and power to order compulsory recall within stipulated time frame".

Significantly, the panel also recognised that the the burden of safety of vehicles did not lie with the manufacturers alone. Hence, the new Road Safety Bill might also stipulate a fine of up to Rs5,000 on individuals for use of unauthorised components and other manufacturing or maintenance-related violations. Such violations might involve fog-lights, pressure horns, extra-lights, roof-top carriers, and metallic protectors.

Other people who could also be held accountable for such offences are dealers and vehicle bodybuilders, who could face a fine of up to Rs1 lakh per vehicle.

Additionally, the bill also provides for a fine of up to Rs1 lakh for "selling non-approved critical safety components for vehicles" for component dealers.

The proposed penal provisions formed part of recommendations made by a panel of state transport ministers, set up by the centre to frame stricter traffic and road safety rules.

The final recommendations are expected to be framed this month.

The panel had unanimously agreed to frame strict and steeper penalties that included imprisonment for offences like driving by minors, crossing speed limits, drunk driving, talking over phone while driving and jumping traffic lights.

The bill also recommends jail of up to a year in addition to a penalty of Rs10,000 for those driving with fake licences as against the  current penalty provision of Rs 500 and a maximum jail term of three months.

In case of juvenile drivers, the owner of the vehicle or the driver's guardian would face stricter penalties of up to three years in jail and fine of up to Rs20,000, with the possibility of vehicle registration certificate being cancelled.

After it failed to push in the new Road Safety Bill in Parliament, the centre had constituted the group of ministers (GoM) for further consultation and reaching a consensus on stricter traffic rules.