MUMBAI: Maharashtra has recorded 183 cases of women arrested for rash driving or road rage in 2014, which accounts for 15.6% of the total arrests in the country and gives the state the second position on the list of such arrests. Kerala tops the list with 263 arrests, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report 2014.

Maharashtra is also sixth when it comes to women drivers arrested for causing death due to negligence. While Bihar heads this list with 52 arrests, Maharashtra has seen 20 arrests in 2014.

In comparison, for rash driving or road rage, Gujarat has recorded 141 arrests, MP 117, Delhi 97 and Rajasthan 88.

This is the first time rash driving cases have been classified separately in the NCRB report .

For causing death due to negligence, after Bihar comes Uttar Pradesh with 49 cases and then West Bengal with 42, Tamil Nadu with 24 and Karnataka with 21.

Director General of NCRB in New Delhi, Archana Ramasundaram, in her covering note for the 2014 report stated that like the earlier editions, this report contains detailed information on cognizable crimes, disposal of crimes by police and courts, property crimes etc. However, the number of chapters in the report has been increased, she said.

Joint commissioner of police (traffic) Milind Bharambe said most accidents due to reckless driving can be prevented simply by following rules. “Additionally, there are a few safety tips drivers can follow to ensure they and their passengers are not victims of reckless driving accidents,” said Bharambe.

Former IPS officer Y P Singh said Maharashtra, being a progressive state, has more women driving cars. Further, some women seek adventure or get drunk before driving. Hence, the quantum of motor vehicle crimes is more compared to other states.

“Besides, the law is unclear. On the same set of facts, some interpret the law as rash and negligent driving under section 304A of the IPC which carries punishment of up to 2 years, while some others on the same facts would apply culpable homicide not amounting to murder, i.e. section 304 of IPC, which carries punishment of up to 10 years,” said Singh.

Former traffic joint commissioner of police and current additional director general of police (prisons) B K Upadhyay told TOI the time has come to make fresh amendments in the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act. “Motorists are not afraid of punishment in India. But when the same motorists or persons go abroad, they adhere to traffic rules fearing stringent action. Fresh amendments to the act have been submitted to the government and, once cleared, will act as a deterrent for motorists. Take the example of the recent case involving lawyer Janhavi Gadkar. Cops handled the case properly and got her behind bars,” Upadhyay said.