Beware! New Motor Vehicles Act likely to be implemented in Guwahati very soon

Guwahati: City police are likely to enforce the new Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 very soon in the Guwahati city.

Deputy Commissioner of police (traffic) Prasanta Saikia recently said, “We are waiting for a notification from the Centre. As soon as we receive it, we will implement the act from next week. We hope to start fining and prosecuting violators on the basis of the new act.”

He said ever since the act was introduced, people have become aware of the new rules and are taking precautions.

“Traffic violations are likely to go down in the coming days as the fines have become very high. We have started awareness programs at various locations to make the people aware about the new act.”

He claimed that people between 18 and 45 years are more vulnerable to road accidents because they do not follow the basic rules. Several people violate the rules on purpose and many even lose their limbs in accidents, he said.

“We are not only going to catch civilians but also police personnel who violate traffic rules. We will take action against any official who violates the rules and we will impose double the fine amount,” Saikia said.

He said they were taking various initiatives to make traffic policemen friendlier. “Our constables are given behavioural training at least three times a week. We ask our personnel to be polite to everybody on the road,” he added.

Saikia claimed many people are not aware of the lane-driving rule. The police are conducting various drives to make the people aware about the importance of sticking to a fixed lane while driving.

According to the new act, the traffic police will even fine motorcycle riders who do not wear shoes. Those riding pillion might also get fined for not wearing helmets.

The traffic police might also make seat belts mandatory for all car passengers as well. Sources said the police might also initiate a drive on modified vehicles which cause noise as well as air pollution.

From January to July this year, there were 75 road accidents in the city, in which 18 people died and 71 were critically injured.

In 2018, 1,051 accidents occurred, where 258 people lost their lives and 775 were hurt. In 2017, 977 accidents took place.

Also Read: New Motor Vehicle Amendment Act Is A Nonstarter in State

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