Madurai district police imposing fine on traffic violators. (TOI photo)

NEW DELHI: Indicating clearly that his ministry won't come under pressure from a section of people criticising high traffic fines , Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari said on Tuesday the government does not want to impose huge fines, but there should be respect and fear for the law.

He also asked who would be responsible if a driver without licence or in a drunken state causes an accident.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of two events relating the automobile sector and MSME industries, he said, "The government does not desire to raise the limits of the fine. The issue is that a time should come that no one gets penalised and everyone follows the rules. Around five lakh accidents occur in the country every year and 65% of the persons killed are in the age group of 18 to 35. Shouldn't people's lives be saved? There should be respect and fear for the law. I feel the high penalty will show good results in the next few months."

The minister also shot back at a reference to the hefty fine imposed on an auto-rickshaw driver in Odisha asking, "If an accident had taken place, who would have been responsible?"

The driver was accused of drunk driving and he also did not have his licence and vehicle papers.

Some experts who support high penalties have, however, raised concerns over the singular application of the amended law on traffic offenders with little accountability assigned to road owning agencies and law enforcing authorities. There has been criticism of how issues to do with road conditions, faulty signages, and poor maintenance of traffic signals are yet to be fully addressed. The only provision against road owning agencies is a Rs 1 lakh fine if faulty designs lead to any fatal accidents.

"This provision of fine should be extended to all road owning agencies... We expect the government will include such provisions in the new Motor Vehicles Rules , which will be prepared for enforcement of the entire law," said Piyush Tiwari of Save Life Foundation.

A study by road safety expert Rohit Baluja in 2017 had highlighted how 75% of road signages in Delhi are faulty and confusing for commuters. He maintains that until everything in the law is explained clearly and without any ambiguity, there will be subjective enforcement.



In Video: Transport Minister speaks up on new traffic norms