Points-based driving licence system to curb traffic violations

Bengaluru: Karnataka will introduce a points-based driving licence system, under which points will be assigned for various traffic violations and a driving licence will be suspended once a specified threshold is reached.A joint review meeting of the Home and Transport Departments on Wednesday examined the legal measures required to implement the system.Karnataka has also decided to increase the fine for parking vehicles on footpaths from Rs 500 to Rs 5,000. Driving on one-way roads will also attract a Rs 5,000 fine.Additionally, two-wheeler riders will no longer be allowed to use unsafe half-helmets that do not conform to road safety standards, as the state has decided to prohibit their manufacture and production.The government will frame rules in this regard and take action against factories manufacturing half helmets, an official statement said.Dedicated lanes for BMTC buses will also be reintroduced on roads in Bengaluru where metro construction has been completed.Separately, Karnataka will revisit the fixed-fare policy for cabs plying within Bengaluru and other cities and is likely to allow ride apps to charge fares within a specified range, the sources said.The change will apply to cabs attached to ride apps, city taxis and airport taxis.The Transport Department will also amend the Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, 2016, which govern cab services offered by ride apps, the sources added.In February 2024, the state introduced uniform, fixed fares to curb “unauthorised” practices such as surge pricing during peak hours.Ride aggregators pushed back the fixed fare system and urged the government to allow them to charge within a specified range after the base fare, the sources said.Earlier, per-kilometre charges after the base fare ranged from Rs 11-36 to Rs 27-54 lakh depending on the vehicle price.“We have decided to revisit the fixed fare policy by consulting various stakeholders,” sources in the know told DH.“We have received representations from cab aggregators and are actively looking into them. A suitable decision will be taken as soon as possible,” they added.Slow traffic: Bengaluru cops counter TomTom Traffic Index survey numbersThe Transport Department’s Sarathi system will be integrated with the Bengaluru Traffic Police’s e-challan system.This will enable comprehensive management of driving licence suspensions and traffic violation records.The integration would allow traffic police to verify a driving licence’s validity on the spot, access a driver’s previous violations and directly link newly registered cases to the driver’s digital record.The meeting discussed identifying people with five or more traffic violations, taking legal action against them, recovering pending fines and, where necessary, impounding or blacklisting vehicles.The possibility of imposing restrictions on vehicles with repeatedly unpaid fines was also examined. Amendments to the relevant laws and rules were also discussed.The meeting discussed introducing mandatory road safety training and awareness programmes for repeat offenders facing suspension or cancellation of their driving licences. The meeting also discussed effective action against the sale and use of unauthorised horns, modified silencers and excessively bright LED lights.The meeting discussed the increasing traffic violations involving low-speed battery-powered electric two-wheelers, including requirements relating to helmets andregistration.It also examined withholding pollution certificates from vehicles with unpaid traffic fines and conducting joint operations by the Transport Department and trafficpolice.The meeting discussed introducing suitable routes, fixed fares and a licensing system for shared auto services for metro passengers.In view of BMTC electric buses breaking down on major roads and obstructing traffic, the meeting discussed setting up a dedicated technical team and an emergency response system to remove such vehicles quickly. It also examined establishing a coordination mechanism between BMTC and traffic police to ensure prompt repairs and clearance of roads.The meeting also discussed improving BMTC services along the Outer Ring Road, providing feeder bus services from metro stations to technology parks, increasing the number of buses during peak hours and encouraging employee-shared transport systems.

Source: Deccan Herald