Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced that the move aims to promote responsible driving and reduce road accidents, which claim nearly 1.8 lakh lives annually across India.
New Delhi: In a major road safety reform, the Central Government is planning to introduce a graded, points-based driving licence system that could lead to suspension or cancellation of licences for serious and repeated traffic violations.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced that the move aims to promote responsible driving and reduce road accidents, which claim nearly 1.8 lakh lives annually across India.
Points-Based Licence System
Under the proposed system, traffic violations such as:
- Using a mobile phone while driving
- Over-speeding
- Driving on the wrong side
- Drunk driving
will attract penalty points. Accumulation of penalty points could result in suspension of the driving licence for six months, while repeat offenders may face permanent cancellation.
โWe are bringing a graded point system for driving licences. If all points are exhausted, the licence may be suspended or cancelled,โ Gadkari said while addressing a national road safety conference organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in New Delhi.
Alarming Road Accident Data
Highlighting the severity of the crisis, Gadkari stated that India records nearly:
- 5 lakh road accidents annually
- 1.8 lakh fatalities every year
Of these deaths:
- 72% involve individuals aged 18โ45 years
- 10,119 victims are below 18 years
- 54,122 deaths occur due to not wearing helmets
- 14,466 deaths are linked to not wearing seat belts
- Over 1.2 lakh deaths are attributed to over-speeding
Wrong-side driving, drunk driving, and mobile phone usage while driving are among the leading causes of fatalities.
Enforcement the Bigger Challenge
The Minister noted that while penalties for traffic violations have already been increased, enforcement remains a major challenge. โThere is neither fear nor respect for the law among many road users,โ he remarked.
PM Rahat Scheme for Accident Victims
Gadkari also highlighted the PM Rahat Scheme, which provides emergency medical support to road accident victims. Under the scheme:
- Victims are eligible for cashless treatment up to โน1.5 lakh
- Coverage applies for up to seven days from the date of accident
- Applicable on any category of road
He urged citizens to assist accident victims without worrying about legal formalities or medical expenses.
With the new graded licensing framework expected to roll out soon, the government hopes to significantly reduce fatalities and improve road discipline nationwide.
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