The Nagpur Regional Transport Office (RTO) has begun revoking the driving privileges of those who are caught in the city without seatbelts. According to the law, seatbelt use is required while operating a four-wheeler, and the RTO has adopted a harsh position against violators.
Based on recommendations from the traffic police, the City RTO has suspended the driving license of 515 disobedient four-wheeler drivers this year. The traffic police have begun suggesting that four-wheeler drivers’ licences be suspended for at least three months in addition to penalising offenders. Officials from the Transport Department acknowledged that this is the first instance in which the RTO has begun suspending driving licences for breaking the seatbelt law.
Most offenders who were apprehended for repeat offences had their driving privileges cancelled, according to Assistant RTO Harshal Dake. Every month, the RTO receives a list of traffic infractions from the traffic police for licence suspension. In addition to this, the RTO also suspends licences for infractions. Dake noted that these offenders frequently cause traffic accidents, and that their licences are suspended to stop mishaps.
In accordance with Section 19 of the MVA, 1988, read with Rule 21 of the Central MV Rules, 1989, the department has started suspending driving privileges for violators for a minimum of three months. The infractions include exceeding the posted speed limit when driving, running red signals, using a mobile while driving, etc.
The decision to suspend driving licenses has been taken in view of the increase in road accidents. In the first quarter of this calendar year, the City and East offices of the Transport Department have suspended the driving licenses of 13 drivers/riders for speeding, 32 for signal jumping, 203 for using mobile phones while driving, and 567 two-wheeler riders for riding without helmets.
In 2022, both the City and East RTOS had suspended driving licenses of 11,672 motorists based on recommendations from the traffic police. In 2021, as many as 7,474 drivers faced suspension of their driving licenses, and in 2020, a total of 9,315 drivers had their license f suspended when the city was und Covid-induced lockdown.
The RTO’s strict stance violations and on seatbelt other traffic offenses serves as a reminder for all drivers to follow traffic rules and regulations to prevent road accidents.