Under the new Act that comes into effect from September 1, a driver can be fined Rs 10,000 for not giving way to emergency vehicles like ambulance and fire brigade.
Brace up for stringent penalties as the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which was cleared by Parliament last month, has comes into effect. The higher penalties will be applicable throughout India. The goal is to create a fear of law that ensures decrease of traffic violations.
While in most places overseas it is a given that you need to step out of the way when an ambulance, fire truck or police vehicle is passing by, the rules apparently change when it comes to Indian roads where vehicles choose to obstruct an ambulance’s road or use it as a way to cut through the traffic. Certainly, it isn’t either wise or smart to do any of that and now even the traffic department seems to be taking the issue far more seriously. So the next time you tend to obstruct an ambulance’s path even negligently, be prepared to pay a fine of Rs. 10,000/-
In the new circular issued by the New Delhi Traffic department, hospitals have been asked to share details including vehicle number, date and time of violation and proof, if any and the police department will verify the same before taking any legal action. If found guilty, the defaulter will be asked to pay a fine of Rs. 10,000/- for obstructing an ambulance’s path. Certainly an applauding move, drivers need to understand the importance of giving right of way to emergency vehicles.
Emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire trucks have the right of overriding of way over all motorised traffic on the extreme right lane of the road. They can also use the opposite road to avoid traffic. However, most ambulance drivers agree that the rule is rarely followed, which leads to loss of time in saving a precious life. Due to the extensive traffic and absolute disregard of rules, several patients have died on the way to hospital in an ambulance, while the traffic has also been the reason for not reaching to the patient on time.
