Breaking the speed limit may land you in jail! Coming down heavily on reckless drivers who risk the lives of pedestrians by driving at breakneck speed, Delhi Traffic Police will start registering cases under Section 279 Indian Penal Code (IPC), which entails jail up to six months or Rs 1,000 fine or both.
Intensifying the drive against vehicles of all categories, including the private vehicles, the traffic police will now register cases under Section 279 of IPC against dangerous drivers, along with prosecuting them under the Motor Vehicle (MV) Act. The move, according to Commissioner of Delhi Police Bhim Sain Bassi, will curb dangerous driving on the roads and help ensure safety while improving mobility.
The Traffic Police will also enhance the special drive which was started in October last year. “Booking the violators under IPC will involve more stringent punishment as the violators can be imprisoned as well. This will deter dangerous drivers indulging in rash driving and will promote disciplined driving on the roads. In the year 2013, a total of 519 cases were registered against reckless motorists,” said Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Taj Hassan.
The initiative will help Traffic Police curb the cases of lane jumping, dangerous driving and high-speed driving. These cases will be subject to the local magistrate who will decide whether the violators will be issued penalties, imprisoned or both.
Section 279 of the IPC states: “Whoever drives any vehicle, or rides, on any public way in a manner so rash or negligent as to endanger human life, or to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with a fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.” A total of 2.02 lakh challans were issued against dangerous driving in 2013.