The Motor Vehicle Amendment Act has come into force across the nation and it brings sweeping changes in fines and penalties on traffic violations, tightening the screws on traffic violators. But the larger question is whether it’s justified to merely hike fines without putting in place proper road infrastructure? And secondly, against the backdrop of large-scale corruption in policing, could these hiked fines only increase the stakes of road-side extortion?
The money involved is huge. Overspeeding will be penalized with a fine of Rs 4000 instead of the earlier Rs 1000, driving without helmet carries a fine of Rs 1000, drunken drivers will be slapped with Rs 10,000 fines, dangerous driving Rs 5000, driving despite disqualification Rs 10,000 and under-age driving up to Rs 25,000 and three-year imprisonment. The collections of traffic police could jump on an average four times. This is where a corruption-proof system in needed.
Lest we forget, the transport department had last August announced that it will soon launch e-challans. There were ambitious plans to use portable cams that capture footage to check violent offenders which could also double up to check corruption. It’s over a year and the point-of-sale machines are yet to see light of the day. And with no big brother watching, corruption among traffic police continues to be an open affair.
The hike in fines appears unfair when looked at from the perspective of the infrastructure provided. Statistics indicated that road deaths are deadlier than terrorism with potholes killing at least 10 people every day across the nation. While 2324 succumbed in 2016 there have been 3597 deaths in 2017 due to pothole-related mishaps. The numbers are growing and this cuts a sorry picture of the state of our highways and State roads.
Government’s intentions may be genuine to arrest the rising road casualties, but there is a fine imbalance visible since there is no focus on road conditions. The government by putting stringent measures in place is ensuring that citizens feel the pinch and think twice before committing an offence. But has the government spared a thought to the very roads that snuff out lives of thousands of people every year?
Goa’s roads are no exception. Promises on better roads and even the recent assurance to cover all potholes before Ganesh Chaturthi have gone empty. The national highways have developed huge craters and even the surface of Zuari Bridge is giving motorists a nightmare. The road-side lighting remains non-functional leaving motorists exposed to all sorts of risks. And the government continues to turn a Nelson’s eye to this aspect.
There are fines for overspeeding and rash driving, but what happens when motorists fall prey to poor road conditions? Who is to be penalized? The law is for everyone and violators need to be penalised, but in the same breath, government needs to wake up to pathetic road conditions and get its act together.
