Govt to Make Driving Tests Mandatory for Traffic Violators Seeking Licence Renewal

NEW DELHI: Govt is set to make driving tests mandatory for motorists seeking renewal of their driving licences if they have a history of traffic-rule violations, as reflected in challans. Road transport ministry has also proposed empowering Motor Accident Claims Tribunals (MACTs) to award interim compensation to road crash victims and their families, instead of making them wait until the final disposal of their claims. After consultations with states and ministries spanning almost two years, the proposed amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act were placed before the informal Group of Ministers (iGoM) headed by defence minister Rajnath Singh last week. TOI has learnt that the panel has given the ministry the go-ahead to finalise the bill, which may be introduced in the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament. The proposals are aimed at reining in errant drivers and use of uninsured vehicles and also seek to go back to the earlier practice of insurance regulator IRDAI fixing the third-party premium based on vehicle age and challan history. In the 2019 amendment, this power was vested with the road transport ministry. The amendments linked to compensation in case of death or grievous injuries in road crashes are significant. At present, MACTs can’t provide any interim relief. The ministry has proposed that a claims tribunal may “grant such interim relief that it may deem fit”. It has also proposed that in case an insurer or offending party challenges the order of a claims tribunal, it would have to pre-deposit Rs 10 lakh or 50% of the awarded amount, whichever is less. Currently, it’s Rs 25,000 or 50% of the awarded amount, whichever is less. The ministry has also proposed increasing the bar for filing appeals in high courts from current Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. “The move to allow interim compensation by MACT tribunals is welcome considering that such cases often face delays in final disposal,” said Amarjeet Singh, an advocate and a road safety expert. Experts also lauded the proposal that makes fresh driving tests mandatory for drivers who have a history of flouting traffic rules. Tightening the screws on errant drivers, the ministry has also proposed that no fresh DL would be issued to an applicant for three years in case of revocation of earlier DL. The ministry has further proposed to increase the age bar for requirement of medical certificate for fresh DL or licence renewal from the current 40 years to 60. “In the name of ease of living and ease of doing business, we must not compromise with the fundamental parameters that are necessary for making roads safe,” said Anil Chhikara, a former deputy transport commissioner of Delhi. Experts also said that the proposal of “double fine or penalty” for drivers violating traffic rules would increase the risk of misuse by traffic police.