Traffic Rules in India That Every Two Wheeler Rider Should Know

A two wheeler is probably the first vehicle that most people learn to ride after a bicycle. Nothing ever compares to the feeling of getting your first driving license. In India, you have to be at least 16 years old to get a license to drive a gearless motorcycle. On the other hand, you need to be at least 18 years old to apply for a license to ride a motorcycle with gear. But the responsibility of a rider does not end on getting the license issued from a Regional Transport Office (RTO). Instead, it begins with a license.

Read more
  • Save up to 85% by comparing plans

  • 20+ Insurers to choose from

  • 1.2 Crore+ Bike Insured

*TP price for less than 75 CC two-wheelers. All savings are provided by insurers as per IRDAI approved insurance plan. Standard T&C apply.

No paperwork required! Renew insurance in 60 seconds⚡

Plans starting at only @ ₹1.5/day*

Enter bike number (e.g DL1SB1234)
Processing

Every two wheeler rider needs to follow traffic rules while driving a bike. The traffic rules for two wheelers have been set to prevent road accidents and ensure the safety of two wheeler riders. According to the road accident report by Road Transport Ministry, about 1.5 lakh people died in road accidents in 2018 out of which 35.2% were two wheeler riders.

Motor Vehicle Act 2019

Earlier, the road safety rules were mentioned under the Motor Vehicle Act 1988. However, the act was amended in 2019 by the Government of India to improve the road accident situation in India. As per the Indian Road & Transport Minister, Nitin Gadkari, the new road safety rules aim to provide a safe, efficient and corruption-free transport system in India.

As a result, the new Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2019 was introduced that came into effect on 1st September 2019. Under the Motor Vehicle Act 2019, stricter two wheeler driving rules were put in place. Contrary to the previous act, defying the traffic rules now attract shiftier penalties and fines. In fact, the fines have been increased up to 10 times on various traffic rules violations.

Traffic Rules for Two Wheeler Riders in India Under Motor Vehicle Act 2019

Take a look at the traffic rules for two wheelers along with new fines implemented under the Motor Vehicle Act 2019 below:

Drunk Driving

As per the road safety rules, a person is not allowed to ride a two wheeler under the influence of alcohol. If the traffic cop finds you driving with more than 30mg of alcohol under 100ml of your blood, he can legally arrest you without needing an arrest warrant. 

FINE – In the case of the first offence, you will have to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 or/and up to six months of imprisonment. But in the case of the second offence, you will have to pay Rs 15,000 as fine or/and up to two years of imprisonment.

Dangerous Driving / Talking on Phone While Driving

Rash driving or driving your two wheeler dangerously is not permissible under traffic rules. Moreover, people are not allowed to talk on the phone while riding a bike under traffic rules for two wheelers.

FINE – If you are caught driving your bike rashly or dangerously then you will be liable to pay a two wheeler fine of up to Rs 5000 or/and up to one year of imprisonment for the first offence. In the case of the second offence, you will have to pay a fine of up to Rs 10,000 or/and up to 2 years of imprisonment.

Over Speeding

Every road has a specified speed limit. As per the two wheeler driving rules, driving beyond the permissible speed limit is also not allowed.

FINE – If traffic police catch you over speeding on your two wheeler then you will have to pay a fine of up to Rs 2000.

Racing and Speeding

Motor Vehicle Act 2019 does not allow racing or speeding using two wheeler under the traffic rules.

FINE – In case you are found racing or speeding your two wheeler then you will have to pay Rs 500 or/and up to one month of imprisonment. In the case of the second offence, you will have to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 or/and up to one month of imprisonment.

No Valid Driving License

The rules of RTO for two wheelers do not allow anybody to ride a motorcycle without a valid driving license. The license should not have been expired and should be valid to drive the kind of motorcycle you are using.

FINE – In caseyou are caught by the traffic police for driving without a valid driving license or an authorized bike then you will have to pay an RTO fine of Rs 5000.

Juvenile Driving

The Motor Vehicle Act 2019 has introduced a new category of juvenile driving. Under this category, people under 16 years and 18 years are not allowed to drive a gearless and motorcycle with gear respectively.

FINE – In case a juvenile is found driving a bike, his guardian or owner of the vehicle will have to pay a two wheeler fine of Rs 25,000 along with three years of imprisonment.

Driving Without Mandatory Two Wheeler Insurance

As per the traffic rules of India, third party insurance for two wheelers is compulsory for all riders.

FINE – If you are found driving a two wheeler without third party liability insurance then you will be liable to pay an RTO fine of Rs 2000 or/and up to three months imprisonment for the first offence. In the case of the second offence, you will have to pay Rs 4000 as fine or/and up to three months of imprisonment.

Riding Without a Helmet

The road safety rules of India does not permit people to ride a two wheeler without a helmet.

FINE – In case you are found riding a bike without a two wheeler, you will be required to pay a fine of Rs 1000. Moreover, your driving license will be disqualified or suspended for three months.

Driving With Disqualification

The rules of RTO for two wheelers do not allow disqualified people to drive a two wheeler.

FINE – In case you are caught driving a motorbike despite disqualification, you will attract a fine of Rs 10,000.

Not Giving Way to Ambulance

As per the traffic rules for two wheelers, not giving way to an ambulance or other emergency vehicle is a punishable offence.

FINE – If you are found blocking or not providing a clear way to an ambulance or any other emergency vehicle then you will be liable to pay a fine of Rs 10,000.

Overloading of Pillion Rider

The recently amended Motor Vehicle Act 2019 recognises overloading of pillion ridersas an offence. As per the road safety laws in India, only two people are allowed to ride on a two wheeler, comprising of the driver and the pillion rider.

FINE – In case more than two people are found riding a motorcycle, then a two wheeler fine of Rs 2000 will have to be paid along with disqualification of driving license for three months.

Jumping Traffic Lights

The rules of RTO for two wheeler does not permit people to jump traffic signals even if you are riding a bike.

FINE – If you are caught after jumping a traffic signal then you will be liable to pay an RTO fine of Rs 1000 and may also have to face suspension of driving license.

Parting Words

Traffic rules have been designed to ensure the safety of vehicle drivers, pillion riders, pedestrians as well as the two wheeler itself. It is important for everyone to follow road safety rules to ensure that no lives are lost due to road accidents.Besides, following traffic rules for two wheelers is the best way to avoid paying hefty fines under the Motor Vehicle Act 2019. So drive with a responsible mind.

Search
Disclaimer: Policybazaar does not endorse, rate or recommend any particular insurer or insurance product offered by an insurer.

Two Wheeler insurance articles

Recent Articles
Popular Articles
How to Negotiate a Bike Insurance Claim?

03 Nov 2023

Bike insurance is an essential financial safety net in case of
Read more
Bike Insurance Add-ons: Zero Depreciation Cover V/s Return to Invoice Cover

03 Nov 2023

Among all the bike insurance add-ons available in the market
Read more
Dos and Don'ts While Filing Bike Insurance Claims Online

25 Oct 2023

When claiming on your bike insurance policy, you always look for
Read more
How to File a Claim for Bike Damaged Due to a Cyclone?

17 Oct 2023

Tropical cyclones are prevalent, causing a huge loss of human
Read more
How to Reduce Your Bike Insurance Premium by Avoiding Small Claims?

13 Oct 2023

For two-wheeler owners, adequate coverage is crucial to keep
Read more
How to Check Vehicle Owner Details by Registration Number?
Did you know that you can extract vehicle owner details with the help of the vehicle registration number? Well, it
Read more
Get Your Vehicle Fitness Certificate from RTO
The Fitness Certificate (FC) of a vehicle is an official document that certifies the vehicle is fit enough to run
Read more
Best Two-Wheeler Insurance Plans in India
When choosing the best two-wheeler insurance plans, you must have seen several motor insurance companies offering
Read more
Documents Required to Purchase a New Two-wheeler in India
Buying a two-wheeler can be a significant step in one's life as nothing can beat the excitement of owning the
Read more
Is Bike Insurance Mandatory for 5 Years?
Amid the rising number of road accidents from uninsured two-wheelers, the Insurance Regulatory Development
Read more