Traffic Penalty Futile Fines - Traffic Violation India 2019

The traffic penalty fiasco in India is a much-debated ongoing issue. On September [latex]{1}^{st}[/latex], 2019, strict traffic penalty laws were brought into force under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act for a traffic violation. The high penalty rates have received widespread criticism resulting in several governments reducing the fines in their States. The bill introduces some vital provisions in the areas of road safety, vehicle fitness, recall of vehicles; protection of Good Samaritan, third party insurance, motor vehicle accident fund, regulations for online driving license, vehicle registration processes and driver’s training.
The State of Gujarat displayed their disapproval by employing a substantial decrease in the fines. Other states like West Bengal, Kerala, and Karnataka, have also taken critical steps to bring these provisions into force without disrupting a peaceful co-existence. The quantum of the fine has been brought down while maintaining that the rules must be followed strictly to adopt standard safety guidelines for the nation. The compulsory wearing of helmets is an imposition which saw opposition from the motorists and two-wheeler drivers. With the noble initiative and strict enforcement, the basic safety in terms of the prompt use of helmets has been seen.
Traffic Penalty - Why this is a good idea? It is interesting to think about why this is a good idea and is extremely crucial for a nation like India. India is known to have some of the most accident-prone road infrastructures where standard control isn’t observed regularly. The cases of road accidents due to the lack of the use of proper safety gear and diminished road quality standards have been several. Thus, it is safe to say that until the necessary legal requirements are met to maintain the road qualities, these measures can go a long way to make sure security forces are being empowered.
Traffic Penalty - Where do we draw the line? Even with the noble intentions of the new wave of reforms, it cannot be denied that this has harbored as an opportunity for corruption for some authorities to cash in on the instances of any irregularity with the law. It is vital to ensure that any such corruption is nipped in the bud before the law to keep people safe in the first place becomes a means to rob them in return for protection from the law. The only protection that should be observed is that from road accidents.
The central essence of these reforms is regarding Section 198 A that makes it mandatory for all contractors, consultants, and designers to comply with the safety standards laid down by the central government. Only with an uplift in the quality of roads can we bank on safe trips by vehicles. Further, making safety equipment compulsory can only be an icing on the cake provided we work hard enough to provide reliable infrastructure first.
Thus, as necessary as the newly enforced traffic laws can be in ensuring safety and potentially avoiding accidents, there is more work to be done. Some significant changes need to be administered regarding the infrastructure, and some standards for quality should be laid down. Most importantly it should be kept in mind that the idea behind the traffic enforcement is to enable the citizens to live a safe life and not to make the criteria of avoiding penalties another task for them that they learn to dodge. A step towards prioritizing safety will only be in the right direction when no stone is left unturned in assuring the same.