NEW DELHI: The amended Motor Vehicle Act with provisions of high penalties seems to have had some impact on road deaths. According to the road transport ministry, eight out of the nine states from where details were available show significant reduction in fatalities during September and October 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018.The amended law came into force from September 1.In a written reply in Rajya Sabha on Monday, Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari said there was maximum decline in fatalities in Uttar Pradesh (143) followed by 77 less deaths in road crashes in Gujarat. Percentage wise, Chandigarh showed the maximum improvement where road deaths reduced by three-fourth during this period, followed by Puducherry . Uttarakhand saw nearly 30% decline in fatalities as well.The average decline in fatalities across eight states was around 22%. Chhattisgarh in the only state where deaths increased by 4.1%.“Once we have the road crash and fatalities data from all states for the September-December quarter of 2019, we will have a clear picture about the impact of the changed law on road users. Hope this will convince the state governments to enforce the law,” said a government official. Gadkari had said, “The visible impact of the change in Motor Vehicle Act will be felt in one to two years from now.”