USING MOBILE WHILE DRIVING-ACTION AGAINST DRIVERS

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

USING MOBILE WHILE DRIVING– On Sunday night, 12 people, including a six-year-old girl, died on the spot and 23 others were injured after the mini-bus they were traveling in crashed into a stationary truck on the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway near Jambargaon toll plaza in Vaijapur tehsil of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.

Also, Read ROAD ACCIDENT COMPENSATION CLAIM

The Maharashtra government will take a serious view of videos showing the driver watching a movie on his phone while driving.

Devendra Fadnavis said “This is very serious. For those who put lives in danger, action must be taken against them This video will be taken seriously. Action will be taken on such drivers and efforts will be made to create more awareness.

It is not uncommon in India to find drivers navigating directions on their phones or having a conversation while driving. They fail to understand that you only need the distraction of a split second on the road to wind up in a serious accident.

Action against Drivers Using Mobile While Driving

Drivers use several reasons to justify using their phones while driving despite knowing that it is illegal and highly dangerous. However, dependence on technology paired with the need to be constantly connected and available is the primary reason why individuals cannot part with their phones.

Some people may use their phones for navigation or to make important calls or messages, thinking these activities are essential and cannot wait until they are off the road. Drivers often underestimate the risks involved in using a phone while driving and believe they can multitask safely.

Whatever the reason, drivers must learn to prioritize safety and avoid using phones while driving. And to nudge drivers in that direction, authorities levied a fine for talking on mobile while driving.

Under the Motor Vehicle Act 1988, using a mobile phone while driving was ₹1000. But as this small driving with mobile phone fine was not an effective deterrent, there was an amendment to the rule in 2019.

The revised fine for using mobile while driving was increased to ₹5000. For every subsequent offence, the penalty for using a mobile while driving was pegged at ₹10,000. This increased fine for talking on the phone while driving impressed the severity of the offence on drivers.

Also, read WHAT IS SECTION 177 OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE ACT,1988

Reasons for Increase in Using Mobile Phones While Driving Fine

In September 2019, the Government of India introduced a new provision under the Motor Vehicles Act, which revised the fines for traffic offences. The primary objective of the new provision was to make the roads safer by promoting responsible driving and reducing the number of accidents on Indian roads.

Under this revision, the fine for driving while using a mobile phone was also increased to deter drivers from engaging in this dangerous behavior. Using a mobile phone while driving can be a major distraction and can significantly increase the risk of accidents on the road.

Distracted driving: Using a mobile phone while driving can distract the driver, causing them to take their eyes off the road and lose focus. This can result in accidents, which can cause serious injuries and fatalities. By increasing mobile use while driving fine, the government aimed to discourage this dangerous behavior.
Promote road safety: The primary objective of the new Motor Vehicles Act was to promote road safety. By increasing the fine for talking on the phone while driving, the government hoped to reduce the number of accidents caused by distracted driving
Raise awareness: By increasing the fine for using a mobile phone while driving, the government aimed to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving. The increased fine was intended to send a message that using a mobile phone while driving is a serious offence that will attract serious consequences.