What is Section 184 of the Motor Vehicle Act?

With never-ending traffic violations in almost every Indian city, the 30-year-old Motor Vehicle Act underwent many changes recently. The government has made the penalty structure more stringent under the amended Motor Vehicle Act of 2019. It is required for all vehicle owners to carry along their registration certificate, driving license, and vehicle insurance documents at all times. As a commuter, read on to know the importance of Section 184 of the Motor Vehicle Act.

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What does Section 184 MV Cover?

With over 43.9% traffic accidental deaths in 2019, the government has made several changes to the ‘Dangerous Driving’ section of the Motor Vehicle Act of 1988. The act has been in effect since 1988 and requires all drivers to adhere to its rules. On failing to do so, they may be punished by hefty fines and more.

Section 184 of this act is imposed if the driver is driving their vehicle dangerously. Anyone who drives their vehicle above the speed limit or in a manner that puts others in danger will be penalized according to this act. The danger is not limited to nearby drivers or occupants of the vehicles but also includes nearby passengers who may be alarmed or endangered by the culprit.

Section 184 of the Motor Vehicle Act also covers details and complexities arising out of geographical location, condition of the weather, traffic situation, etc based on which penalties or imprisonment is sanctioned. Those who are found guilty of this offence will be punishable under this section.

New Fines for Riders to Watch Out For!

While most riders love the thrill of speeding, make sure you’re aware of the consequences speeding and dangerous driving may fetch you. There have been many changes in the act with fines as high as Rs. 5 lakhs and Rs. 2.5 lakhs.

Not giving way to emergency vehicles is an unfortunately common sight on all Indian roads. Now the law will fine anyone obstructing an ambulance and other emergency vehicles Rs. 10,000 and more. While these penalties fall under different sections, in this article section 184 of Motor Vehicle Act will be covered.

Major Changes You should Know About

It is hard to track every law amendment that concerns our daily lives, so here are some major changes in section 184 of the Motor Vehicle Act:

• As per the old rule, anyone driving dangerously was fined up to 1,000 or imprisonment of up to six months.
• Under the new changes, the fine can be extended to up to Rs 5,000 and the imprisonment can be extended to up to one year.
• The new law has also increased the earlier fine of  Rs. 2,000 to Rs 10,000 which can constitute any of the following scenarios:
  • Jumping a red light signal
  • Violating a stop sign
  • Overtaking or passing other vehicles by the wrong means
  • Driving recklessly in a manner that is far below the expected competence of a driver
  • Driving against the authorized flow of traffic
  • Using mobile phones/ other handheld devices while driving
• For the first offense, the punishment can include a fine of Rs. 1000 or imprisonment. The offense, if repeated, will attract the same penalty.
• While the act is imposed only after all the circumstances have been considered, if the driver is under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants then they will also be punishable under section 185 of the motor vehicle act. Racing or speeding a vehicle will fetch you a penalty of Rs. 5,000 for the first offense. The second and subsequent offenses will cost you Rs. 10,000.

Please note that these examples are only for the purpose of explanation and are not limited to this list.

In a nutshell,

All these changes along with the increase in digital monitoring and fines are only meant to keep you safe while on roads. New traffic laws require vehicle drivers to carry all the related documents like pollution checks, driving licenses, and car insurance papers along. While the laws don't make it compulsory to carry your vehicle's insurance, it must still be purchased.

Driving without a third-party insurance will also result in penalties up to Rs. 4,000 if repeated. Hence it is essential that you carefully compare different plans and buy the best car insurance on Policybazaar. With increased fines and stricter rules let's hope there is better adherence to the law.