Road Safety Rules in India - A Guide to Traffic Signs and Rules

1. Road Safety Rules in India: A Guide to Traffic Signs and Rules Every year a huge number of road accidents occur in India. Therefore, it is important to follow the crucial safety rules of road for minimizing the cases of such accidents. For example, one should drive within the allowed speed limit and keep traffic signals in mind while driving. Additionally, it is critical to avoid drinking while driving. Apart from following these instructions, it is also essential to keep away mobile phones while you are in the driver’s seat. To reduce the risk of road accidents, you must also be careful about observing the safety rules of road and avoiding reckless driving. Do not forget to take proper measures for road safety.

2. If you are not aware of what is road safety rules, read further:- Road Safety Rules in India India has specific rules and regulations that all drivers must follow to ensure safe driving. Here mentioned are some of the most important road safety rules in India:- •Speed Limits– Maintain the safe speed limit of your vehicle to avoid accidents. •Traffic Signals– Follow the traffic signals to reduce the risk of road mishaps. •Drink and Drive– Do not drink and drive as it might cause severe damage. •Driving Under the Influence(DUI)– Drinking under the influence of alcohol can be very risky so you must avoid it. •Use of mobile phones– Do not use mobile phones while driving. •Road Signs– Follow the road signs when you are moving on the road. •Overtaking– Avoid overtaking as it can lead to accidents and severe damage. •Seat Belts– You must wear seat belts while driving to stay safe in case of accidents. Road Safety Tips in India In addition to following the 5 road safety rules, here are some practical road safety instructions that can help you stay safe on the road. 1. Learn and follow safety rules for road To begin with, you must follow all the essential traffic rules. It is important to learn all the critical safety rules of road. 2. Maintain Your Vehicle You must maintain the vehicle by getting it serviced on time. In case an accident took place then you must get it repaired to avoid accidents in future. 3. Avoid Distractions You must completely focus on the road, look ahead and drive avoiding all the distractions to minimize the risk of road accidents. 4. Follow Lane Discipline Drive carefully on the right lane and you must obey all the safety rules of road. 5. Wear Helmets If you are riding a 2-wheeler, you must wear helmet. This will help prevent you from getting hurt while driving.

3. 6. Avoid aggressive driving One of the best ways to avoid road accidents is aggressive driving. It is better to drive at a slow speed rather than driving recklessly. 7. Use Dash Camera By installing a car dashcam in your car, you will be able to keep a watch on the incidents occurring inside the vehicle. Thereby, ensuring the safety of the vehicle and the driver. Importance of Traffic Rules in India Following traffic rules helps to minimize the chances of road accidents. There are various other important of road safety rules in India. 1. They Reduce Accidents and Injuries One of the major importance of traffic rules and signs is for maintaining safety. Various obstacles that occur on the road can cause harm and put drivers at risk, therefore, to reduce the possibility of accidents, it is essential to adhere to road safety and traffic rules. 2. They Help Manage Traffic Flow Traffic rules not only help to maintain safety but it is also essential for the efficient movement of traffic. In many cities, heavy traffic can be a major issue. In order to control traffic flow, it is crucial to obey the safety rules of road. 3. They Help Protect Cyclists and Pedestrians By following Indian road safety rules, pedestrians get to know where they can safely cross the road. It also helps warn drivers to respond to the presence of pedestrians. What Are the Different Traffic and Road Safety Issues? India is a country reported with a number of road crash deaths and injuries in the world. India constitutes 1% of the world’s vehicles. However, it accounts for more than 10% of all road crash deaths. There are different types of traffic and road safety issues:- 1. Heavy Traffic Congestion Traffic congestion is a major issue in India. Due to the increasing number of vehicles on the road, there is an increased risk of accidents. 2. Reckless driving Today, careless driving continues to be a major problem on Indian roads. Drivers who speed and indulge in dangerous driving behaviours put themselves and others at risk.

4. 3. Pedestrian safety Pedestrians are often at risk of accidents. The number of motorists is increasing on the roads and therefore, the risk of accidents is also high. Following road safety rules and regulations can minimize the chances of road accidents. Road Safety Initiatives Taken by the Indian Government A number of road safety initiatives have been taken by the Government of India:- The Ministry of Road Transportation and Highways has taken a number of steps to remedy the situation. Some of the Important Schemes administered by the Road Safety Cell are Publicity Programs and Grants-in-aid to Voluntary Organizations for organising road safety programs. Other Indian road safety rules and initiatives include the National Highway Accident Relief Service Scheme, Refresher Training for Heavy Vehicle Drivers in Unorganized Sector and the Setting up of Model Driving Training schools. Traffic Challan List and Fines Section of DMVR/CMVR/M.V. Act Compounding Penalty Amount Traffic Offense Description Red Light Jumping 119/177 MVA Rs. 00/- Driving Left Hand Drive without Indicator 120/177 MVA Rs. 500/- Improper & Obstructive Parking 122/177 MVA Rs. 500/- Traveling on Running Board (Drive) 123(1)/177 MVA Rs. 500/- Traveling on Running Board (Passenger) 123(2)/177 MVA Rs. 500/- Triple Riding on two-wheeler 149C MVA Rs. 1000/- Driving without Helmet 194D MVA Rs. 1000/-

5. Helmet W/o strap or Strap Not tied 194D MVA Rs. 1000/- Defective Helmet (Not Confirming BIS) 194D MVA Rs. 1000/- Not Displaying Number Plate or Defective or Fancy Number plate 50, 51 CMVR/39/192 MVA Rs. 5000/- 125(2)CMVR 1989/177 MV Act Rear View Mirror Turned Inwards Rs. 500/- Misbehavior with Police Officer 179 MVA Rs. 2000/- Over Charging by TSR/Taxi 11.8/177 DMVR Rs. 500/- Refusal by TSR/Taxi Driver 11.9/177 DMVR Rs. 500/- Driving without Light (After sunset) 105/177 CMVR Rs. 500/- Driving without Horn 119(1)/177 CMVR Rs. 500/- Driving without Silencer 120/190(2) CMVR Rs. 5000/- Driving with a Defective Number Plate 50/177 CMVR Rs. 5000/- Violation of stop Line 113(1)/177 DMVR Rs. 00/- Disobeying Lawful Directions 132/179 MVA Rs. 2000/-

6. Disobey of lawful direction in case of an accident or damaging property 132/179 MVA Rs. 2000/- Allowing unauthorized person to drive 5/180 MVA Rs. 5000/- Driving without License 3/181 MVA Rs. 5000/- Driving by Minors 4/181 MVA Rs. 500/- Over Speeding LMV 112.1/183(1) MVA Rs. 2000/- Over Speeding MMV/HTV 112.1/183(1) MVA Rs. 4000/- Driving Dangerously 184 MVA Rs. 00/- Using ‘Unregistered Vehicles’ or Displaying “Applied For” 39/192 MVA Rs. 2000/- Violation of Yellow Line 119/177 MVA Rs. 500/- Violation of Restriction of Time on HTV’s/Care on various Road (No Entry ) 115/194(1) M.V. Act 1988 Rs. 20000/- Trucks carrying sand/dust without covering (No Entry) 115/194(1) M.V. Act 1988 Rs. 20000/- Violation of mandatory signs (One Way No Right Turn, No Left Turn, No Horn) 119/177 MVA Rs. 100/-

7. Excess Smoke 99(1)(a)/177 DMVR Rs. 500/- W/O Wiper CMVR 101/177 MVA Rs. 500/- Tinted Glass CMVR 100.2/177 MVA Rs. 500/- Blowing of Pressure Horn 96(1)/177 DMVR Rs. 5000/- Using horn in No Honking/Silence Zone 194F MVA Rs. 1000/- Conductor without Uniform 23(1)/177 DMVR Rs. 500/- Driver without Uniform 7/177 DMVR Rs. 100/- Conductor without Badge 22(1)/177 DMVR Rs. 500/- Conductor without Licence 129/182 MVA Rs. 10,000/- Carrying Passengers on Goods Vehicles 84(2)/177 DMVR Rs. 00/- Carrying Goods on Passengers Vehicle 84(3)/177 DMVR Rs. 500/- Use of Coloured Light on Motors Vehicle 97(2)/177 DMVR Rs. 500/- Smoking in the Vehicles 86.1(5)/177 DMVR Rs. 500/- Wrong Passing or Overtaking other Vehicle 6(1)RRR/177 MVA Rs. 00/-

8. Drunken Driving 185 MVA Rs. 00/- Advertisements on Vehicle DMVR 71.2/177 MVA Rs. 500/- RC Violation 39/192 MVA Rs 5,000/- W/O PUCC 115 CMVR /190(2)M.V.A Rs 10,000/- W/O Insurance 146/196 MVA Rs 2,000/- W/o RUPD CMVR 124.1/190.2 MV Act. Rs 10,000/- W/o LUPD CMVR 124.1/190.2 MV Act Rs 10,000/- No Using Seat Belt 194B MVA RS 1000/- W/o Reflector 104/177 MVA ACT Rs 500/- Top Light Violation 108(1) CMVR/177 MVA Rs 500/- Using high beam 112(4)(c)/177 MVA Rs 500/- Without Fitness 56/192 MVA Rs. 500/- CARRYING HIGH/LONG LOAD / Protruding rods 194(1A) MVA Rs. 20000/- Improper or Obstructive Parking 122/177 MVA Rs. 500/-

9. Violation of Mandatory Signs(One Way,No Right Turn) 119/177 MVA Rs. 500/- Unauthorized Use Siren DMVR 107/177 MVA Rs. 500/- Playing Music DMVR 102/177 MVA Rs. 500/- Without Log Book CMVR 85(10) 177 MVA Rs. 500/- W/O Permit 66.1/192(A) MVA Rs 10,000/- Not giving way to an emergency vehicle 194E MVA Rs 10,000/- Driving in NMV lanes 115/194(1) MVA Rs. 20000/- Plying of old age Diesel/Petrol vehicles (more than 15/10 years) 39/192/207 MVA Rs. 00/- Obstructive Driving(Extra Passenger on Driver Seat) 125/177 MVA Rs. 500/- Conclusion Road safety is one of the most important issues in India. It is critical to maintain road safety to minimize the number of accidents that occur on the road. We must obey all the traffic signals, follow the permitted speed limits, and at the same time understand the significance of safe driving to reduce the risk of accidents. Just the way we follow other governmental rules, we must follow the important road safety guidelines and traffic rules for road safety to ensure safety and also assure the safety of pedestrians and other motorists.

10. Frequently Asked Questions 1. What are traffic rules? Traffic rules are a list of directions given to drivers either through police officers regulating traffic. These traffic rules must be followed by all the vehicle drivers for the safety of the pedestrians and to reduce the risk of road accidents. 2. Why is it important to obey speed limits? Speed limits are set to keep the pedestrians as well as the motorists safe on the road. Therefore, the reason people should obey traffic rules is to maintain road safety and for the safety of the people walking or driving on the road. 3. Why is it important to wear seat belts? If you wear a seat belt you will remain safe during a crash. Thus, wearing a seat belt keeps you safe and secure inside your vehicle. However, if you don’t wear your seat belt, you could be thrown out of the vehicle and suffer injuries. 4. What is the purpose of traffic signals? Traffic signals have a wide variety of particular uses. For example, •To maintain a safe flow of traffic •To keep pedestrians and vehicles safe •To minimize accident frequency and severity 5. What are some examples of reckless driving? Reckless driving is one of the many causes of road accidents. If the driver is driving in a careless way it means that he is driving recklessly. Such cases of harsh driving can lead to severe accidents. 6. What are the most important road safety rules to follow while driving in India? There is a list of Indian road safety rules that you must follow while driving in India:- 1.You must always walk on the sidewalk. Otherwise, you must walk on the side of the road in the direction facing the road traffic. 2.You must turn off your headphones while crossing a street to stay aware of the approaching traffic. 3.You must be extremely careful during gusty weather conditions. 7. Are there any specific road safety tips I should keep in mind while driving at night in India? If you are driving at night in India, you must

11. 1.Check if all the lights of the car are working fine 2.Clean windows and windscreens 3.Do not overspeed 4.Avoid driving if you are tired 5.Be careful of drunk drivers 8. How can I ensure the safety of my children while travelling in a car in India? To ensure the safety of your children while travelling in a car in India, you must activate the kids safety locks, and you must maintain a slow driving speed and avoid reckless driving. 9. What are the penalties for breaking road safety rules in India? The penalty for driving a vehicle without a valid Driving Licence is increased from Rs. 500 to Rs. 5,000. However, the penalty for driving under the influence of alcohol has increased significantly to Rs. 10,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 6 months. 10. What precautions should I take while driving on highways and expressways in India? Unpredictability can lead to a number of calamities on the highway. So, you must maintain a constant speed. Avoid night time driving to minimize the risk of accidents. Also, you must not involve in overtaking a vehicle and drive carefully.