Fines tripled for driving offences

If you break a traffic signal, you have to pay Rs 100 as fine now; soon, you'll have to pay up Rs 300. The penalty for drink driving, for those caught for the first time, will go up from Rs 2,000 to Rs 6,000, and those who are driving an unregistered vehicle will have to cough up Rs 15,000 instead of Rs 5,000.

If you break a traffic signal, you have to pay Rs 100 as fine now; soon, you'll have to pay up Rs 300. The penalty for drink driving, for those caught for the first time, will go up from Rs 2,000 to Rs 6,000, and those who are driving an unregistered vehicle will have to cough up Rs 15,000 instead of Rs 5,000.

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The state Cabinet on Wednesday approved a threefold rise in fines for major traffic rule violations. The proposal for amending 18 Sections of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, cleared by the state in an attempt to step up road safety, will now to go to the Centre for its approval.

"Considering the huge number of accidents due to rash and drink driving, the government has increased the fine by three times," CM Ashok Chavan said.

State statistics show there were 70,000 road accidents in three years — 2007, 2008 and 2009 — and more than 11,000 deaths a year as a result of flouting of driving rules.

A transport department official said, "We have in the last two years conducted many campaigns against rash and drink driving. We are hoping heavier fines would force people to drive more carefully."